Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis
Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis is a set of videos made by Indigenous Anglicans in different regions of the Communion: Aotearoa & Polynesia, Africa, Amazonia and the Arctic. Described as “a lament in the present and a vision for living well”, they look at both the current reality facing communities and draw on Indigenous wisdom for shaping a vision of a better future.
The videos were produced independently but a unifying theme clearly emerges: the real impact of thought patterns, or world views, on the physical world – both for good and ill. Two world views crystallise: an extractive world view and a relational one.
In the video from Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, contributors offered Indigenous theological reflections on the environment saying, “Indigenous Maori and Pacific peoples understand creation is inherently unified. There is a profound connection among all that exists with creation. Maori recognizes relationship as kaitiakitanga. …At the heart of the term kaitiakitanga is whanaungatanga (kinship) – the interrelatedness of all creatures within all species. Plants and birds, rivers, lakes and sea, mountains and hills, animals and insects all have value in themselves and are to be respected and honoured. In this way kaitiakitanga respects the mana (authority) of all living things and seeks to uphold all their mauri (vital essence) with tapu aroha and manaki (sacred love and care). …The concept of kaitiakitanga positions human beings in creation – not as supreme masters over the earth community but as interdependent members of the earth community. Perceiving ourselves as interdependent members of creation requires us to broaden our gaze beyond our anthropocentric concerns to include consideration of all living entities in everything we do.”
The Prophetic Indigenous Voices offering from Africa shared similar theological wisdom. Rev Dr Kapya Kaoma from Zambia reflected, “The African world view sees humanity in relationship to the entire created order. Unlike in the West, the African world view has repeatedly pointed to the interconnectedness of humanity to the world of nature. Humans are part of nature. …I want us to see how the African world view can help reform our thinking, because until our thinking is reformed, this crisis will continue to haunt us. The most important thing we need to realise is what Africans realised centuries ago: that we live on this earth, but it does not belong to us.”
The videos from Amazonia and the Arctic similarly demonstrated Indigenous Peoples’ deep understanding of connection and interdependence with the natural world which is in such marked contrast to the utilitarian one, which underpins most of the global economy. They also make clear the severe harm that results from this extractive mindset and practice. The whole planet is suffering – seen in biodiversity loss, climate change and unimaginable levels of waste and pollution on land and at sea. And Indigenous Peoples are especially under threat as their lands are taken over and lost.
Background
The Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis were originally created for a webinar series held in Advent 2020. It was run by the Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN) in partnership with the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) and with input from the Anglican Alliance. This was the first time the three bodies had worked on a joint endeavour and the collaboration proved strikingly fruitful. The webinars provided rich insights and conversation, and helped shape Anglican thinking – seen in the Anglican Communion’s advocacy into UN spaces and in the Lambeth Call on the environment and sustainable development.
For further reflection on the videos and their impacts, see:
Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis – Update
Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis heard at the United Nations Environment Assembly