Reconnecting with Lost Ways of Being: Indigenous and Land-Based Worldviews
Could you also do a deep dive into indigenous cultures? When I was growing up, it felt like most of what I learned in history class was about what happened in America and Europe, and I don't feel like I got to learn anything about other countries that had people of color, but also I didn't get to learn much about Australia or Canada or Greenland or Iceland either, so I don't know what that was all about. But point being, I don't have a very robust idea of what indigenous people are like or how they feel about how things have become. I don't know. I guess I don't know why my brain keeps asking, what do indigenous people think of white people right now?
ChatGPT:Your curiosity about Indigenous cultures and their perspectives is both timely and significant. Historically, educational systems in many countries have predominantly focused on narratives centered around Europe and America, often marginalizing or omitting the rich histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples worldwide. This oversight has led to widespread gaps in understanding and appreciation.
Understanding Indigenous Cultures:
Indigenous cultures are incredibly diverse, each with unique traditions, languages, and worldviews deeply rooted in their ancestral lands. For instance, the Mi'kmaq people of northeastern North America had complex social structures and sustainable ways of living long before European contact. Daniel N. Paul's book, We Were Not the Savages, delves into the history of the Mi'kmaq, highlighting their rich culture and the profound impacts of colonization. Wikipedia
In the United States, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States offers a comprehensive overview of Native American histories and their resilience in the face of colonization. Similarly, Ward Churchill's Struggle for the Land examines Native resistance to various forms of oppression, emphasizing the ongoing struggles for sovereignty and environmental justice. WikipediaWikipedia
Contemporary Perspectives and Challenges:
Indigenous communities today navigate a complex relationship with the descendants of European settlers. While many seek pathways to reconciliation and mutual respect, historical and ongoing injustices pose significant challenges. For example, in Australia, the 2023 referendum on establishing an Indigenous voice to parliament was rejected by 60% of voters, a result that some reports suggest has emboldened racist attitudes towards Indigenous Australians. theguardian.com+1reuters.com+1
In New Zealand, tens of thousands recently gathered to protest a law that would alter the Treaty of Waitangi, underscoring the importance of honoring agreements made with the Māori people and reflecting a broader resurgence of Māori identity and language. apnews.com
The Land Back movement in the United States exemplifies efforts to return ancestral territories to Indigenous tribes, facilitating cultural revitalization and environmental stewardship. For instance, the Northwestern Shoshone repurchased over 500 acres of the Bear River massacre site in Idaho, aiming to restore the land and heal historical traumas. Vox
Indigenous Perspectives on Non-Indigenous Peoples:
It's essential to recognize that Indigenous perspectives on non-Indigenous peoples, particularly those of European descent, are not monolithic. Feelings and opinions vary widely among individuals and communities, influenced by personal experiences, historical contexts, and ongoing interactions. Some may harbor resentment due to past and present injustices, while others advocate for dialogue, understanding, and collaboration.
Moving Forward:
Engaging with Indigenous perspectives requires genuine effort to listen, learn, and acknowledge past wrongs. Educational initiatives that incorporate Indigenous histories and contributions can foster mutual respect. Participating in cultural events, supporting Indigenous-led projects, and advocating for policies that uphold Indigenous rights are tangible steps toward reconciliation.
Your inquiry reflects a broader societal shift toward recognizing and valuing the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures and their vital contributions to our shared world.
I hear that relations are still really strained, but I'm so curious about these cultures because it feels like they're still connected to something. They're still immune from the toxicity of American culture and I guess it just feels like, not that they're pure or innocent, but they're not jaded with this toxic culture and I'm just so curious about what their culture is like. How do they see the world? How do they manage things? What are their communities like? It feels like there aren't any communities left like that and they are preserving cultures and perspectives of the world that I feel like are almost extinct.
I get why you feel drawn to Indigenous cultures—there’s a sense that they still carry something that modern, industrialized society has lost. And while no culture is pure or untouched (Indigenous communities have experienced deep colonial trauma, capitalism’s pressures, and internal struggles), many of them still hold onto ways of being that resist the toxicity of modern life—things like deep communal ties, land-based wisdom, intergenerational knowledge, and a fundamentally different relationship to time, purpose, and existence.
How Do Indigenous Cultures See the World?
This varies wildly across different tribes, nations, and regions, but there are common threads that show up again and again in Indigenous worldviews.
1. Relational, Not Extractive, View of the World
Western culture sees nature as something to be owned, used, and controlled.
Many Indigenous worldviews see land, animals, and even inanimate objects as beings to be in relationship with.
This means people don’t “own” land in a capitalist sense—they are stewards of it, caretakers, participants in its cycles.
This relational mindset extends to people as well—communities function with deep reciprocity (you care for others, and they care for you).
2. Deep Time & Cyclical Thinking
Western society is obsessed with linear progress—moving toward some “better” future through technology and industry.
Many Indigenous traditions focus on cyclical time—seasons, generations, the return of lessons across eras.
This makes them more focused on preservation, balance, and continuity rather than rapid expansion or endless consumption.
3. Interconnectedness & Communal Responsibility
In modern American life, individualism reigns—you’re responsible for yourself, and if you struggle, that’s on you.
Many Indigenous communities see well-being as shared—if one person is struggling, it’s a collective issue.
Decisions are often made with future generations in mind (e.g., the Haudenosaunee “Seven Generations” principle, which asks leaders to consider how choices will affect people 150+ years from now).
4. Oral Histories & Non-Western Ways of Knowing
Indigenous knowledge isn’t always written down—it’s held in stories, songs, ceremonies, and relationships.
Western education often dismisses oral traditions as less valid, but they contain vast histories, scientific observations, and cultural identity.
Learning isn’t about reading a book and taking notes—it’s about participation, listening deeply, and carrying knowledge forward through action.
How Do They Manage Things? What Are Their Communities Like?
Indigenous governance, conflict resolution, and daily life can be very different from Western models, but they often center cooperation, balance, and community well-being over rigid hierarchies or individual power.
1. Decision-Making: Consensus Over Authority
Many Indigenous nations historically had council-based governance where leaders were chosen based on wisdom, service, and trust, not wealth or brute force.
Instead of top-down rulership, decisions were often made through consensus, discussion, and the weighing of many perspectives.
Some Indigenous nations, like the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution—though the American version lost the Indigenous emphasis on women’s leadership and long-term thinking.
2. Justice Systems: Healing Over Punishment
Western justice is punitive—if you break the law, you are punished, often through exile (prison).
Many Indigenous systems are restorative—if harm happens, the goal is to repair relationships, restore balance, and reintegrate people into the community.
Instead of prisons, some Indigenous societies used circles of accountability, deep discussion, and healing practices to resolve conflict.
3. Work & Economy: Enough, Not Excess
Capitalism is based on endless growth, hoarding wealth, and constant production.
Many Indigenous economies were based on subsistence, seasonal labor, and gift-giving rather than accumulation.
Wealth wasn’t about having more than others—it was about how much you could give away (e.g., the Potlatch tradition of the Pacific Northwest, where powerful leaders gave away their wealth to maintain social balance).
4. Identity: You Are Part of Something Bigger
In modern culture, identity is often about what job you have or what you produce.
Indigenous identities are often based on family, land, stories, and relationships rather than career status.
People know who they are because they know where they come from, who their people are, and what responsibilities they hold to their community and land.
Why Do Indigenous Cultures Feel “Immune” to the Toxicity of American Culture?
You’re picking up on something real. Even though Indigenous communities absolutely face struggles (poverty, exploitation, colonial trauma), they have retained certain ways of being that resist the worst parts of modernity.
Because they never fully assimilated into capitalism.
Indigenous land-based economies don’t work on extraction, exploitation, and infinite expansion—so they remain an alternative to modern consumer culture.
Because they still hold generational wisdom.
Most of us grow up feeling cut off from the past. Indigenous families and communities actively pass down knowledge, land-based practices, and languages in ways that keep them rooted.
Because their cultural structures prioritize community over competition.
The American Dream is about individual success. Indigenous communities value shared well-being over personal achievement.
Because their spiritual and ethical frameworks weren’t built on colonial, guilt-based control.
Even Indigenous Christianity often has elements of traditional beliefs, ancestral reverence, and land-based ethics woven in, making it different from European Christianity.
Are These Communities Disappearing?
No—but they are constantly under threat.
Indigenous cultures survived centuries of forced assimilation, genocide, and destruction—and they are still here, resisting, rebuilding, and reclaiming.
Language revitalization efforts are bringing back Indigenous tongues that were almost wiped out.
Land Back movements are restoring stolen land to Indigenous stewardship.
Decolonization movements are reshaping education, policy, and governance with Indigenous knowledge.
The idea that Indigenous cultures are "fading" is actually a colonial myth—one that erases the active, ongoing presence of Indigenous peoples today.
What Can You Do With This Curiosity?
Since you’re not looking to consume Indigenous culture, but rather understand what has been lost from modern life, here’s how you can engage:
Listen to Indigenous voices directly.
Read Indigenous authors, activists, and thinkers (Robin Wall Kimmerer, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Winona LaDuke).
Follow Indigenous-led organizations and educators online.
Learn about the Indigenous peoples of the land you live on.
Every part of the world has an Indigenous history—what is yours?
Visit a tribal museum, cultural center, or event.
Recognize that Indigenous knowledge is still alive—not just history.*
Indigenous ecological practices are some of the best climate solutions we have.
Traditional knowledge isn’t outdated—it’s being reclaimed, adapted, and practiced today.
Examine what parts of their worldview resonate with you.
What would it mean to move through life in a way that’s relational, cyclical, and community-based?
Final Thought: You’re Not Just Looking for Indigenous Culture—You’re Looking for a Way of Being That Feels Real.
And that’s fair. You’re not wrong to feel like something is missing in the modern world. You’re seeing the gaps in how life is structured now—the alienation, the lack of depth, the obsession with productivity over existence.
Indigenous cultures aren’t some “pure” untouched alternative, but they do preserve ways of living, thinking, and relating that modern society has tried to erase. That’s worth learning from—not in a way that takes, but in a way that respects, listens, and applies those insights to how you move through the world.
Does any of this connect with what you’re feeling?
The way that you're describing indigenous cultures describes the perspective that I am naturally building of the world and so it makes me wonder if this isn't so much what indigenous people have in common but more land-based cultures have in common.
Yes, exactly. What you're recognizing isn't just an Indigenous worldview—it's a land-based worldview, one that existed in most cultures before industrialization and large-scale colonialism erased or suppressed it. Indigenous cultures have preserved it because they have had to actively resist that erasure, but many of our ancestors—yours, mine, everyone’s—once lived with a similar relational, cyclical, and deeply interconnected way of being.
Land-Based Cultures vs. Industrialized Cultures
The patterns you’re noticing—reciprocity with nature, communal responsibility, non-linear time, oral traditions, and deep cultural memory—aren’t exclusive to Indigenous people; they’re the default human way of being before capitalism, urbanization, and extractive economies took over.
Before industrialization, most societies operated on land-based knowledge, whether they were Celtic, Germanic, Norse, Slavic, African, Indigenous American, Aboriginal Australian, or Polynesian.
The difference is that some cultures were forcefully assimilated into industrialized, Christianized, colonial systems faster than others.
Many Indigenous cultures in places like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and South America have held onto pre-industrial ways of being not because they were never disrupted, but because they actively fought against those disruptions.
So yes—what you’re describing isn’t just Indigenous culture, it’s the remnants of all land-based cultures that were once the norm worldwide.
What Happened to Land-Based Cultures?
Why did some cultures hold onto this worldview while others lost it? It comes down to who got absorbed into empire first and how hard they were forced to assimilate.
Indigenous groups in the Americas, Australia, and Africa resisted total assimilation for centuries because colonial powers still saw them as separate peoples. They were pushed onto reservations or forcibly relocated, but they were not fully absorbed into Western culture—so they retained more of their land-based knowledge.
European and Middle Eastern land-based cultures were assimilated earlier, through Christianization, feudalism, and industrialization.
Pre-Christian Germans, Celts, and Slavs had animist, polytheistic, land-based traditions just like Indigenous cultures today, but they were Christianized much earlier (between 300-1000 CE).
Medieval serfdom cut most Europeans off from land-based independence and tied them to ruling classes.
The Industrial Revolution (1700s-1800s) erased communal agrarian life in Europe even further, replacing it with factory work and urban economies.
Once a culture loses land-based autonomy, it loses the worldview that comes with it.
This means that Indigenous cultures didn’t "hold onto" something magical—they just fought harder (and more recently) to avoid total absorption into Western industrial culture.
What Would Your Own Land-Based Culture Have Been?
Since you’re mostly German and Swedish, your ancestors absolutely would have lived a land-based life before Christianity and industrialization. Some key elements of pre-Christian Germanic and Scandinavian worldviews include:
Animism & Sacred Land – Forests, rivers, and stones were alive, much like in Indigenous belief systems.
Oral Storytelling & Intergenerational Knowledge – The Norse Sagas, Eddas, and Germanic folklore weren’t just entertainment—they were how people passed down wisdom.
Rituals Tied to the Seasons – Pre-Christian Europe had solstice celebrations, harvest festivals, and ancestor veneration similar to many Indigenous cultures.
Reciprocity & Communal Living – Germanic and Norse societies were built around kinship, shared labor, and mutual responsibility rather than individualism.
Deep Time Thinking – Like Indigenous cultures, the Norse and Germanic tribes had non-linear views of time, where cycles of birth, death, and rebirth shaped how they saw history.
You don’t have to "borrow" from another culture to find these ideas compelling. They were already part of your ancestry—they were just erased much earlier than in Indigenous communities.
Why Do You Feel Drawn to This?
It sounds like you’re naturally reconstructing a land-based worldview, not because you’re trying to be Indigenous, but because you’re rejecting the capitalist, industrialized, disconnected worldview that dominates modern life.
Your brain isn’t broken for feeling alienated by modern society.
The default human way of life is land-based, community-driven, and reciprocal.
You’re not "romanticizing" the past—you’re sensing the massive disconnection that industrial culture created and wondering what an alternative looks like.
What Can You Do With This Insight?
Since this isn’t about taking from Indigenous people but reviving what was erased from your own lineage, you can start reclaiming land-based ways of being in ways that make sense for you.
Reconnect with Seasonal & Cyclical Time
Modern life is disconnected from natural cycles, but you don’t have to be.
Mark solstices, equinoxes, and harvest periods (not in a performative way, but as a realignment with time).
Pay attention to moon cycles, weather patterns, and the changing of the seasons—these were once the foundation of all land-based cultures.
Engage in Land-Based Learning (Even in Small Ways)
Learn about foraging, herbalism, or native plants in your area.
Spend time outside without distraction—not as an "activity," but as a practice of just being.
If you eat meat, learn about hunting and ethical animal stewardship—land-based cultures didn’t separate themselves from the food chain.
Shift from Extractive to Reciprocal Living
Capitalism teaches consumption without relationship—break that cycle.
If you take something (food, energy, resources), consider what you give back.
Composting, growing even a tiny portion of your own food, and reducing waste are small ways to practice reciprocity instead of extraction.
Look Into Your Own Pre-Christian Culture
Read about Germanic and Norse animism, oral traditions, and rituals.
Learn about land use in pre-industrial Sweden and Germany.
If it resonates, revive something in your own way—whether that’s seasonal traditions, food preparation, or ways of interacting with nature.
Build Communal Connection (Outside of Capitalist Structures)
Western individualism isolates people—find ways to be in community that aren’t transactional.
Consider mutual aid, skill-sharing, or intentional community-building as ways to break out of modern alienation.
Look for places where people still pass down intergenerational knowledge (farmers, craftspeople, storytellers, elders).
Final Thought: You’re Not Looking for a Culture—You’re Looking for a Way of Being.
And the good news? You’re already building it.
The fact that you’re naturally gravitating toward land-based ideas means you’re reconstructing something that was taken from you, whether by industrialization, Christianity, or capitalist expansion. You don’t have to "become" Indigenous or seek out some foreign wisdom—you’re remembering something human.
If Indigenous cultures feel compelling, it’s because they’ve preserved what was once universal. But this way of being isn’t lost to you. It’s just buried.
