Historical Context
We are living in an era of cascading collapse. From the melting of the ice sheets to the impending great extinction, the Anthropocene challenges the very survival of the human species. And yet there are Peoples who have survived the tests of climate changes and the attacks of settler colonialism and modernity.
Some might argue that these Peoples represent just a tiny fraction of humanity and thus cannot be a true model for human survival. We must remember that at one time our species was reduced to several thousand individuals. A “saving remnant” persevered and now there are over seven billion of us. Our ancient ancestral beliefs about being human on a living earth have been carried forward by small communities of indomitable survivors who are honored on this website. Their lives as first Peoples have been grounded in unity, order, wisdom, skill and compassion. The modern world, in contrast, has given rise to separation, power over, self-interest and chaos in service to a mythic notion of progress.
“They really tried their best to annihilate us completely. But guess what? We’re still here and we haven’t lost those values and those understandings that are so ancient.”
It is not enough to learn about these first Peoples. Non-Indigenous supporters must stand with them as they continue their ongoing struggles to survive systemic injustices that now lead to conditions that cannot sustain human life on earth. This is an invitation to connect, to learn and to take action for we may just be the saving remnants this time around.