Wilma Mankill




I very much enjoyed watching the presentation, Wilma Mankillers presentation "Challenges Facing 21st Century Indigenous People".  She made two really great points, the first being "the difference between non-indigenous and indigenous people who are engaged in that fight is that indigenous people have the benefit of being regularly reminded of their responsibility to the land through the stories and ceremonies, that's the difference".  The environment is something that many people take for granted.  We, non-indigenous people need to learn how to appreciate just as the Indigenous do because soon, at the rate we are going it will be destroyed.  It is really sad how careless we become not thinking about some of the repercussions of our actions.  I think we all need to take some lessons from those Indigenous people, listening to their stories and taking part in ceremonies to give us some perspective.  Wilma Mankiller brought up the topic of "the next generation" just as Oren Lyons spoke about in a previous video.  I don't believe we think about the next generation just about the "now".  Before I had my daughter I have to admit, that was never something I would have thought about.  However, becoming a mother has changed everything about me.  The future, for my daughter and her children and their children is something that is always on my mind now.  The world is becoming a scary place and I can only do the best I can.  Just as Oren Lyons said about always looking ahead for the next 7 generations.   

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 14, 2018 at 5:41 PM

    Hey Francine,

    I was also very moved when I read Oren Lyons say that every decision is made with consideration of seven generation in the future. This really demonstrates a love for their children and wanting to leave behind a good life for family to come. I wish this were the case in America. The world we are left with wont last under the same environmental practices. Thankfully, many up and coming companies are focusing on how to reduce their carbon footprint. We all need to do our part to keep our world clean! No littering!

    -Emily

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