Friday, January 21, 2011
Rekindling the Spirit
A few years ago, I spoke about the world indigenous peoples’ movement and how their spirituality and its relationship with the environment makes them particular as a group.
In 2003, Minnesota Public Radio produced an eight-part series on American Indian traditional spirituality and how it provides moral guidance, a sense of belonging, and a commitment to community among the Ojibwe. As indigenous societies worldwide struggle to heal from the impacts of religious colonization, for the Anishiinaabe, walking the Red Road has led to a renaissance of traditional medicine and healing that western medicine is at a loss to explain.
But as Ojibwe healers note, one needn’t explain the power of prayer; all that is required is a grateful attitude.
In 2003, Minnesota Public Radio produced an eight-part series on American Indian traditional spirituality and how it provides moral guidance, a sense of belonging, and a commitment to community among the Ojibwe. As indigenous societies worldwide struggle to heal from the impacts of religious colonization, for the Anishiinaabe, walking the Red Road has led to a renaissance of traditional medicine and healing that western medicine is at a loss to explain.
But as Ojibwe healers note, one needn’t explain the power of prayer; all that is required is a grateful attitude.
