Wisdom of the Elders
Native and Scientific Ways of Knowing about Nature
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
First Published in 1992, this classic David Suzuki title is now available with a new introduction. A meticulous gathering of both scientific insight and Native knowledge, Wisdom of the Elders offers a way to reconcile our place in nature, by listening to our elders.
From the foundations of time, the big bang, and the creation of the cosmos, to the fate of the earth as predicted by leading scientists and the sacred stories and traditions of Native peoples, this acclaimed collection of the world’s wisdom shows that the future of the planet lies in listening to both these worldviews.
Co-published with the David Suzuki Foundation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this low-key, capacious study, Suzuki, a professor of genetics at the University of British Columbia, and science writer Knudtson (coauthors of Genetics ) compare primitive, aboriginal modes of perceiving the natural world with ``Western culture's ecologically destructive worldview.'' Chapters focused on humans' relationships with, for instance, animals, vegetation and the universe begin with brief summaries of scientific explanation and continue with relevant myths and accounts of daily rituals of such societies as the Chewong in Malaysia, Alaska's Inuit and the Kayapo of the Amazon. Overpopulation, deforestation, solar energy and cyclic and linear approaches to time are considered; of particular interest are essays on the !OK Kung Bushmen's understanding of mammals' physiologies and the Australian aborgines' mythical prehistory, ``Dreamtime.'' Although students of indigenous cultures may find this text basic, it presents an eloquent plea for modern society to more considerately interact with nature.
