WE ARE ALL RELATED - Life Lessons From Native American Wisdom

This is a book about values, virtues and principles for living. It encourages the reader to reflect on the purpose and meaning of her/his own life, to determine if she/he can see in the values examined something worth emulating. These values and principles are examined in the context of those characteristic of the cultures of the pre-contact Indigenous People of North America. The text attempts to refute the erroneous perceptions and stereotypes about Native Americans by which we have become indoctrinated by literature and movies. It contends that most of the Indigenous People were intelligent, aware, self-sufficient, moral and deeply spiritual human beings who had much to teach White People, but the Whites, convinced of their own superiority, would not listen. Perhaps there is value in 'listening' now. Perhaps by examining the traditional values of these Indigenous Peoples we can learn how to make our lives more meaningful, less stressful, more satisfying, maybe even more spiritual. One of the more unique aspects of traditional Native American cultures is the depth of understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and interdependence of all people and all things. This concept was often expressed with the phrase: 'We Are All Related', hence the title.