Indigenous Peoples' Wisdom and Power Affirming Our Knowledge Through Narratives Vitality of Indigenous Religions Series

Capturing the narratives of indigenes, this book presents a unique anthology on global Indigenous peoples' wisdoms and ways of knowing. Covering issues of religion, cultural self-determination, philosophy, spirituality, sacred sites, oppression, gender and the suppressed voices of women, the diverse global contexts across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and Oceania are highlighted. The contributions represent heart-felt expressions of Indigenous peoples from various contexts - their triumphs and struggles, their gains and losses, their reflections on the past, present, and future - telling their accounts in their own voices. Opening new vistas for understanding historical ancient knowledge, preserved and practiced by Indigenous people for millennia, this innovative anthology illuminates areas of philosophy, science, medicine, health, architecture, and botany to reveal knowledge suppressed by Western academic studies.

Contents: Prologue; Synopsis; Ancient Indigenous Cultures: Indigenous San knowledge and survival struggles, Kxao Moses and Oma and Axel Thoma; Nila.Ngany - Possessing/having/belonging to knowledge: indigenous knowledge systems in Aboriginal Australia, Pat Torres; Indigenist research, First nations people in Australia, and colonized peoples, Lester Irabbina-Rigney; North America: The power of indigenous knowledge: navigating the naming of indigenous groups and identities amidst the legacy of European colonial definitions in Canada, Laara Fitznor; Indigenous wisdom and power: telling the truth about the story of resistance of Asdsaa Tl'ogi, wife of Hastiin Ch'il Hajiin, a leader of the Dineh, Jennifer Nez Denetdale; Exploring healing and the body through Chinese medicine, Roxanne Ng; South America: Indigenous Muchik wisdom at work: the tale of a Mestiza, Miryam Espinosa-Dulanpo; The Caribbean: Indigenous wisdom at work in Jamaica: the power of Kumina, Dianne Stewart; The Pacific: A celebration of Maori sacred and spiritual wisdom, Rangimarie Turuki Pere; Architecture in Papua New Guinea: implications for indigenous learners, Kora Malele Korawali; Asia: Multiple voices of resilience and resistance: the Ainu peoples of Hokkaido, Japan, Etsuko Aoki and Kiyoko Kitahara; Emerging forms of governance among indigenous communities: nations, states and ecological citizens in Jharkhand, India, Pramod Parajuli; Europe: Tour in the old and new Vuornese: a Saami journey, Asa Virdi Kroik; Africa: African indigenous world-views and ancient wisdom: a conceptual framework for development in Southern Africa, Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura; Indigenous Xhosa wisdom in contemporary South Africa/Azania: the power of Izibongo, Somadoda Fikeni; Human rights violation and indigenous peoples of Africa: the case of the Maasai people, Naomi Kipuri; How indigenous African knowledge systems inform contemporary human rights perspectives in an era of globalization, Julian Kunnie; Epilogue; Index.

Nomalungelo I. Goduka is Professor of Human Environmental Studies at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA. Julian E. Kunnie is Director and Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Arizona, USA.