Land and spirit in native america

About this book

"This book accurately depicts Native American approaches to land and spirituality through an interdisciplinary examination of Indian philosophy, history, and literature. When white Europeans first encountered Native American cultures, they often regarded Indian ideas about the earth and the spiritual world as evidence of their ignorance and primitive society. Now, traditional Indian wisdom that emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance within specific places is especially valuable and relevant as we grapple with sweeping environmental changes. Indian approaches to land and spirituality are neither simple nor monolithic, making them hard to grasp for outsiders. A fuller, more accurate understanding of these concepts enables comprehension of the unique ways land and spirit have interlinked Native American communities across centuries of civilization, and reveals insights about our current pressing environmental concerns and American history. In Land and Spirit in Native America, author Joy Porter argues that American colonization has been a determining factor in how we perceive Indian spirituality and Indian relationships to nature. Having an appreciation for these traditional values regarding ritual, memory, time, kinship, and the essential reciprocity between all things allows us to rethink aspects of history and culture. This understanding also makes Indian film, philosophy, literature, and art accessible."--Pub. desc.