Indigenous communities represent a rich diversity of cultures and traditions; yet what they tend to hold in common is a deep connection to and respect for the rights of nature. Unfortunately, Western colonization has profoundly disrupted the close relationship between Indigenous people and the natural environment in many places around the world. This research focuses on the experience of two Indigenous communities and the issues they face as their way of life is disrupted by the imposition of Western norms and practices.
Researchers used document analysis and semi-structured interviews as sources of information for this study. The two participating communities were the Mayangna in the Bosawas Reserve in Nicaragua and the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation (KSPFN) (Anishinaabe) in Ontario, Canada. The primary concern for the Mayangna communities centered around forest protection; for the Anishinaabe, the primary concern focused on water issues. While the Indigenous people in Bosawas have exclusive legal right to live in the core zone of Bosawas, non-indigenous inhabitants – referred to as “colonists” – are illegally claiming ownership to sections of the area. Satellite images show that the colonists' agricultural practices – especially in terms of deforestation – are more harmful to Bosawas than the traditional hunting and agricultural practices of the Mayangna. The clearing of the forests by the colonists, in addition to causing a great loss of plant species and traditionally hunted animal species, has generated tremendous fear and grief for the Mayangna. Elders with the Anishinaabe in Canada express similar fear and distress over water concerns. While these concerns include decreasing access to safe water, they also relate to the Anishinaabe's belief in the sacredness of water.
Elders in both the Mayangna and Anishinaabe communities are committed to restoring human-nature relationships that protect the sacred balance. Their view of what this will take includes four interconnected dimensions: ecological, sociopolitical, technical, and educational. Addressing these dimensions in the formulation of public policy – when paired with a recognition and respect for the spiritual and cultural values of Indigenous peoples -- would promote healthy relationships between communities and their natural environment. Of the four dimensions, education is viewed as being “key to changing mainstream society and government perspectives on nature and the essential place that nature plays in well-being.”
This study revealed a number of converging beliefs and challenges shared by the Mayangna in Nicaragua and the Anishinaabe people in Canada. Both communities are threatened by competing interests in natural resources. This threat impacts both the physical and spiritual well-being of the communities. The framework for transforming policy emerging from this study “recognizes Indigenous rights and knowledge systems, makes paramount the health of natural systems, and ultimately aims at protecting the well-being and survival of Indigenous communities and nations.” The overall findings of this study suggest that Indigenous perspectives can help restore and protect sacred bonds between humans and the rest of the natural world.
Research Partner