STATE OF THE WORLD's INDIGENOUs PEOpLEs - CINU

EMBARGOED UNTIL 14 January 2010STATE OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLESNot for distributionto explicitly and informally defend their worldviews as they not only want tosurvive as legal and political entities, but wish to do so within the spiritual andphilosophical understandings of their forebears. In other words, indigenouspeoples want to continue to be informed by indigenous peoples’ worldviews,values and philosophies. 26Recognising the role of indigenous spiritualityFor many indigenous people, having a healthy sense of spirituality is justas important as other aspects of mental, emotional and physical health.It is important to realize that a healthy spirit is essential for indigenouspeople to live a healthy life. Mainstream society is beginning to realizethat spirituality is an element that must be taken into serious considerationwhen dealing with indigenous communities. The importance of integratingspirituality into health care, for instance, has been recognized by WHO.Other areas, for example, within rehabilitation and re-education ofindigenous prison inmates, have also begun to accept that spirituality isan integral part of indigenous peoples and therefore an important issuethat cannot be overlooked.Sources: Wilson (1999); WHO (1998).At the same time, however, indigenous peoples around the world are concernedabout the on-going appropriation of their spirituality. In many countries, peoplewho appropriate indigenous peoples’ spirituality have a desire to (re)-spiritualizethemselves (and possibly others) by using the sacred traditions of indigenouscultures. These people see indigenous cultures and spirituality as emphasisingvalues that are missing from their own societies, such as environmentalfriendliness, solidarity and reciprocity. They also view indigenous societies asfree from technology and industrialization. These attributes combine to create afantasy of indigenous life.Many indigenous peoples see the appropriation of their spirituality as acontinuation of colonialism because it does not appreciate the politicalunderstandings that accompany and reinforce indigenous belief systems. 27Important aspects that are often overlooked or not understood whenappropriation takes place include, for example, the fact that spiritual leadersin indigenous communities have their own training and their own experiences;they have knowledge about aspects of spirituality and philosophical thought andoften do not enter into disputes in their communities, nor do they seek disciplesor converts. They also have, in general, a direct relationship with the sacred andkeep their experiences and their knowledge to themselves. Indigenous peoples’spirituality and understandings, on the other hand, are imbued throughout life;a healthy spirit is essentialfor indigenous people tolive a healthy life26Champagne (2007), 328-329.27Welch (2002).CULTURE | 61