S05E06: Rethinking Our Values: Indigenous Values for a Sustainable Future

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Introduction

We begin this episode with a land acknowledgement.

In this special lecture episode, host Philip P. Arnold explores the urgent need for a “value change for survival,” drawing on indigenous worldviews—especially those of the Haudenosaunee—to challenge modern consumerism and individualism. He discusses how indigenous leadership prioritizes generosity and community well-being, contrasts it with contemporary politics, and highlights movements like the “Rights of Nature” that advocate for a legal and ethical shift in how we relate to the environment. This episode is a powerful call to rethink our values and align with indigenous perspectives to ensure a sustainable future.

Outline

Rethinking Our Values: Indigenous Wisdom for a Sustainable Future
From Consumerism to Connection with Nature
Reimagining Society Through Indigenous Lenses
A New Vision of Earth’s Worth
Navigating Toward a Balanced Future

Show Notes

In this special lecture episode, host Philip P. Arnold delivers a thought-provoking reflection on “value change for survival” and the importance of embracing Indigenous worldviews to ensure the future of humanity. Arnold explores how Indigenous perspectives, particularly those of the Haudenosaunee, offer a profound critique of modern consumerism and individualism. He emphasizes that true survival requires a fundamental shift in values—one that prioritizes the sacred interconnectedness of all life over economic profit. The episode challenges listeners to reconsider their relationship with the environment and adopt a worldview that acknowledges the living, spiritual nature of the natural world.

The Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous communities have long warned of the dire consequences of human exploitation of the earth. Decades ago, Indigenous leaders addressed the United Nations, urging global action to prevent ecological collapse. Their message—that the earth does not need humanity, but humanity needs the earth—remains as urgent as ever. Arnold highlights the wisdom of Indigenous traditions, which stress that human well-being is tied to the health of the land, water, and all living beings. The episode recounts past efforts to promote these values on the global stage, including the “Basic Call to Consciousness” statement from 1977 and the concept of “value change for survival” presented in 1991 by Onondaga Nation Turtle Clan Faithkeeper Oren Lyons.

A key contrast presented in the episode is between Indigenous models of leadership and the self-serving priorities of modern political systems. Arnold explains how Haudenosaunee leadership emphasizes generosity, humility, and responsibility—qualities starkly different from the greed and power-seeking behaviors that dominate contemporary politics. True leadership, according to Indigenous traditions, requires both spiritual and material generosity, ensuring the well-being of the entire community rather than the accumulation of individual wealth and status.

The conversation also explores concrete ways to shift societal values, including the “Rights of Nature” movement, which grants legal protections to the environment, and the “triple bottom line” framework that considers environmental and spiritual impacts alongside financial gain. Arnold underscores the necessity of rethinking economic and political structures that prioritize short-term profit over long-term sustainability. Drawing on examples such as Bolivia’s past constitutional recognition of nature’s rights, the episode highlights global efforts to align legal and economic systems with Indigenous values.

Ultimately, Arnold stresses that the task at hand is not to “save the planet” but to save ourselves by transforming our cultural values. The earth will continue to exist, but humanity’s future depends on its ability to align with the natural laws that sustain life. The episode calls on listeners to reflect on their own values and consider how they can contribute to a shift toward a more sustainable and ethical worldview—one deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge and respect for the living world.

Resources

Arnold, Philip P. 2015. “The Study of Religion and Indigenous Values: The Onondaga Nation Case.” In Between Religion and the Study of Religion: Visions of New Forms of Community, by Richard A Gardner and Tatsuo Murakami, 327–45. Sophia University Press.

Arnold, Philip P. 2023. The Urgency of Indigenous Values. Haudenosaunee and Indigenous Worlds. Syracuse University Press.

Arnold, Philip P, and Sandra Bigtree. 2020. “Forming a ‘More Perfect Union’ Through Indigenous Values.” Orion Magazine. September 17, 2020. https://orionmagazine.org/article/forming-a-more-perfect-union-through-indigenous-values/.

Credits

Music: Onondaga Social Dance songs performed by Orris Edwards and Regis Cook
Producers: Jordan Loewen-Colón and Adam DJ Brett
Show notes: Adam DJ Brett

Citation

Philip P. Arnold, “S05E06: Rethinking Our Values: Indigenous Values for a Sustainable Future,” Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery (Podcast), February 3, 2025. https://podcast.doctrineofdiscovery.org/season5/episode-06/.

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