THE EARTH SPEAKS THROUGH HER DAUGHTERS: INDIGENOUS FEMINIST TEACHINGS

Held Captive By an Illusion of Separation

We live in a world often defined by separation. Humankind sets itself apart from the living world, nature is seen as an infinite resource mindlessly consumed and exploited, and ‘progress’ is measured in limiting, linear, and rigid ways.

This dominant narrative, born mainly from Western imperialist worldviews, places humankind on a lonely pedestal, fostering a dangerous illusion of dominion over the intricate web of life.

It is a perspective that has configured the world order and, unfortunately, brought about immense ecological devastation, erasure, loss and a profound sense of exile from ourselves and the world around us.

An Indigenous Feminist Counter-Narrative

But across the globe, from Africa to the territories of the Mesoamerican, there is much wisdom to be gained from Indigenous voices, particularly feminist siblings whose efforts are rooted in ancient traditions and who offer a powerful counternarrative to the status quo.

They remind us that we are not the masters of the universe but integral threads in a vast, interconnected tapestry.

The knowledge systems passed down through generations are not relics of the past but vital blueprints for a future where humans can relearn to live in harmony with the planet.

A while back, I attended a few convenings where feminists began any important conversation or meeting by honouring the land hosting us, offering a grounding and salutation to the world with a vision of cosmic and international justice.

It is a justice that extends beyond human courts and political borders, reaching into the very fabric of existence because, as we assert, "we want to live free, whole, in wellness and well-being ."

This freedom and well-being are not abstract concepts; they are intrinsically linked to the health and freedom of the Earth itself.

In this profound sharing, there is deep reverence for interconnection and interbeing, which we often hear referred to as Ubuntu. Here, we learn or are reminded about the customs of setting open and harmonising spaces. It is never about imposing control but about aligning with natural rhythms, establishing balance and beauty in the physical and spiritual realms.

The Mayan Long Count Calendar—a model of time—beautifully illustrates this cyclical understanding of life. In one of these meetings, I learned a bit about its significance.

One of our elder feminist in the meeting from the Latin American region informed us how cycles are so often misunderstood by a linear-thinking world that panics about "end times."

Held captive in a trance, they are stuck and preoccupied by the fear of finality instead of riding the waves of “ebb and flow.”

For them, when the calendar resets, it is never about end times but rather the end of one season and the shifting of gears to welcoming the new era.

Orienting and organising our lives, actions, and understanding around a cyclical nature permeates our existence, allowing us to mirror better and be in tandem with the natural world's constant regeneration, death, and rebirth.

The connection to cycles is mirrored in the inspiration drawn from the relationship between dawn and dusk – the liminal space, a transition acknowledging that light emerges from darkness and that darkness holds the promise of dawn.

There is a lesson here: to find balance and the skills to navigate the in-between moments with grace and to recognise duality not as opposition but as complementary forces within the ecosystem of time and energy.

Honouring the Web of Life: Salutations to the Elements

Drawing from these ideas, I observed how some communities engage in mighty acts of salutation and connection.

One example calls upon the energies of the four cardinal points (sun, moon, water and sky) anchoring themselves in the fundamental structure of their world. Their greetings extended beyond human interaction to encompass the forces sustaining life.

They would begin by acknowledging the sun as a light source and a source of life. They would invite those present to open their bodies to connect and soak in the sun's energy, which represents a visceral reminder that our physical selves are also part of this cosmic dance. After greeting and welcoming the sun, we were invited to recognise its conscious presence around us, witnessing as we asserted and built a covenant to be in solidarity with each other. This was by no means simply a metaphor because those stirred by this rootedness continue to feel a lived reality of mutual support and awakening of our shared sense of humanity beyond the confines of rare convenings such as these. The salutations continue, honouring the complete cycle: “Let us salute where the sun sets,” marking the transition to rest and introspection.

The salutation and connection with the moon’s shifting phases are tied to our vast oceans' tidal bulges and feminine cycles. The different lunar phases exemplifies the importance to embrace constant change we face in our lives. 

Connecting with the air, breathing in and out, recognises life's invisible yet essential breath, something so fundamental and shared by all beings. This is a poignant reminder to feminists whose activism and fight for justice and freedom is fueled by this very life force.

Saluting the water element – our seas, wellsprings, and rivers – the lifeblood of the Earth.

Our reverence extends upward as we salute the skies, the heavens illuminating the skies night or day just enough to know it holds the secrets of promise and hope.

All these salutations offer a holistic tribute to the interconnectedness of the sun, moon, water, and air, to the earth that grounds us and the sky that expands us. All them vital components of the living world, which we honour and defend.

And we offer deep respect and gratitude through a simple and sincere "thank you" for this web of life. A profound gratitude for being part of something much greater, complex, vital, and sacred.

As we know so well, the political and the spiritual are inseparable in this worldview. Therefore, I see our bodies and territories not just as places or lands but rather as sites alive with millions of memories and hosting our lives. I love this idea because it is a radical departure from the concept of land as lifeless or passive property. Territories are living entities, pulsating with the history, experiences, and identities of the people and ecosystem that belong to them. With this perspective, we can begin to see how bodies are connected to land and how we can defend against oppression or violation.

Any violence against the Earth is violence against our bodies and communities; the defence of our lands is the defence of our very existence and our freedom.

Recovering Our Interconnectedness

The journey back to this understanding is both external and internal. It requires us to challenge the dominant narrative of separation and embrace the age-old wisdom of interbeing.

It also requires a certain introspection, a "journey into ourselves." By using our figurative inner eyes and embarking on a lifelong inner exploration grounded with compassion and curiosity, we hopefully begin to shed the layers of learned disconnection.

Until we truly return to ourselves, to our inherent connection to the rhythm and pulse of the planet, until our indigenous knowledge reminds us that humankind is part of an ecosystem, we remain in exile, alienated from our inner peace and fractured in our connection to the outer world. 

The voices of indigenous feminists from every corner of the Earth call us back. They illuminate the path towards a world where space is opened and harmonised, where time is understood in its beautiful, cyclical flow, where bodies and territories are revered as sacred, and where justice means living in balance within the magnificent, life-sustaining web of which we are all a part. 

It is a call to remember who we truly are and to take our rightful, humble place within the community of life.