American Indians saw no difference between man and his animal brothers and sisters long before Darwin came along to teach a similar truth. To the Indian, everything was connected in the web of life, and to hurt a part of it was to hurt all. This corresponds to a modern understanding regarding the delicate balance of nature. He did not believe man was the final pinnacle of creation with any right of dominion over his non-human relatives. He understood that without the healing benefit of nature man would descend into madness and self-destruction.
Native Americans' Close Relationship to Nature and Animals
Most tribes never ritually sacrificed wild or domestic animals (as many primitive cultures did), but instead greatly honored other species by emulating their natural traits, such as strength or courage.
America’s Natives did not worship idols, people, or animals, but considered all life sacred (as a manifestation of the creator) including plants and trees.
In fact, the Native American Indian knew a lot about the healing nature of herbs and plants; today, over 25 percent of all pharmaceutical drugs are derived from such plants and many more remain undiscovered.
A Free-Spirited Spirituality in Amerindian Culture
Temples were virtually unknown (except to Aztec Indians and certain tribes in South American, such as the Mayans), nor were there religious patriarchs who enforced beliefs in Satan or God. Having a monotheistic belief in one intelligence originating within all of nature, the “Great Spirit” was not a personal god having human or tribal qualities.
For Native Americans, the creator was nature itself. And nature was also the cathedral.
Native Americans Were Early Ecologists
An avid ecologist way before his time, the so-called “Savage” declined contaminating the natural world as did the invading Europeans and others who took over lands he respectfully considered an earthly paradise.
America’s indigenous man was so vigilant to the heart of nature, that he thanked whatever hunted animal gave up its life to feed the people; he knew, in due time, the human would also share the equal fate of death. Nature was always the great equalizer.
Native Indians' Cultural Influence
Many American Indians are attempting a return to their original culture (which appears to have achieved a degree of success in influencing the western world today), although now, America's First Nation People compromise only 1 percent of the total U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Nevertheless, Native thinking has strongly influenced certain non-scientific groups (such as the New Age movement, Alternative Spirituality, and Alternative Medicine, among others). Most importantly, Native Indian culture can be found within the backbone of contemporary ecology, a field extremely vital today. Perhaps America's Indian influence in the modern world is not really given enough credit.
A Deep Love of the Natural World
Native American Indians (as a whole) took such loving care of the environment, that it’s worth pondering what America would look like today had this wise race not been colonized.
American Indians were fine stewards to the land and benefactors of wildlife, a clear reminder to work with, never against, nature’s power – to harness, not enslave its mighty force. Wind turbines, or harnessing the energy of Niagara Falls (as done by Nikola Tesla in 1895 to generate electrical power) are examples of ways to befriend nature for the advantage of all. Nature will generously serve the whole planet, but isn't here to exploit.
The World can Learn from American Indian Wisdom
Many Native Indian beliefs, if emulated, would help to create a healthier planet, which is especially important during an era of major climate change. According to NASA's website and the world’s best and most advanced scientists, no further debate exists regarding climate change and global warming; today both are considered scientific facts.
Settlers learned too slowly that the American Indian was not an uncivilized savage, but instead held a lofty spiritual philosophy in sync with contemporary ecological science. Like the Native Indian, modern society needs to closely observe and intimately know the natural world through a higher understanding of it. Survival – in fact, all scientific knowledge – depends upon this, and science, with its intense focus on the natural world, would probably agree with that significant point.
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