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In the article “Allegiance to Gratitude,” Robin Wall Kimmerer delves into the concept of gratitude and the role it plays in our relationships with the natural world. Her article explores the Thanksgiving Address, an Indigenous practice that prioritizes gratitude and reciprocity in our interactions with the environment. The Thanksgiving Address can be used as a guide for our interactions with nature and how it has the potential to transform our environmental ethics, policies, and practices. Kimmerer introduces the Thanksgiving Address as an alternative to the American Pledge of Allegiance. While the Pledge of Allegiance emphasizes an individual's loyalty and allegiance to the nation, the Thanksgiving Address is a tribute to the natural world that puts gratitude as its highest priority. For Indigenous Peoples, the Thanksgiving Address is not just a recitation but a profound statement of identity and an exercise of sovereignty, both political and cultural (Kimmerer, 2015). Although the article does not explicitly mention climate change, it addresses key underlying issues and offers a way we can shift our perspective that can help address pressing environmental
issues. Kimmerer questions the perspective common in Western societies, where humans often view themselves as separate and superior to the natural world, Indigenous cultures recognize that
humans are part of a larger ecosystem and must take care of it. This fundamental difference in worldview has a significant impact on our treatment of the environment. This is a common concept in Western societies where gratitude is often overlooked, leading to a lack of reciprocity and exploitation of the environment. A shift in this perspective could be used as a guide to change our actions and create a culture of gratitude which can lead to a more sustainable relationship with the environment. Climate change may often seem like a distant and overwhelming problem, but it is an issue we are facing now and will continue to if we don’t take urgent action. The Thanksgiving Address should remind us of the loss and encourage restorative action (Kimmerer, 2015). Because of Kimmerer's emphasis on the personal and emotional bond between people and nature, people may be more inclined to take action to mitigate climate change when they feel grateful for the gifts the earth offers, such as reducing waste and conserving resources.
Kimmerer's article is also significant for its ability to challenge and transform Western attitudes toward the environment and to encourage readers to reexamine our culture of consumerism. This
culture often leads to the exploitation of resources and contributes to environmental degradation. The Thanksgiving Address serves as a reminder that "everything needed to sustain life is already here" (Kimmerer, 2015, p. 111). By integrating gratitude into decision-making processes, we can
address pressing environmental issues and create sustainable solutions. These would not only benefit the environment but also the well-being of people and future generations. This article is also important because it encourages the reader to reflect on the importance and role of gratitude and reciprocity in their own lives. It makes us consider how we might incorporate gratitude and reciprocity into our everyday lives and cultural norms.
Although Kimmerer introduces this shift in perspective the article may benefit from a more thorough description of how we can incorporate a culture of gratitude and reciprocity in society and our daily lives. Examples of recommendations on how to create this culture of gratitude could serve as a guide for change for readers.
In response to Kimmerer’s argument, I agree with her perspective on the importance of gratitude and reciprocity and the role they should play in our relationship with nature. However, implementing Indigenous knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge into environmental debates and policies can be challenging. Indigenous communities have suffered centuries of suppression of their knowledge and traditions due to colonialism. The government has been slow
to recognize the value of indigenous knowledge and traditions. This is an obstacle we must overcome to rebuild trust between indigenous communities and the government before we can begin implementing indigenous knowledge and practices into environmental issues. Organizations and industries that profit from resource exploitation, logging, and agriculture may also oppose the adoption of Indigenous practices. A shift toward sustainability and Indigenous perspectives might be resisted by these industries since it would threaten their profitability. To overcome these challenges, we must be open to adapting and learning from a new perspective. Despite these challenges, this article reminds us that we need to reexamine our relationship with nature and prioritize gratitude and reciprocity. Recognizing the value of Indigenous knowledge and traditions, such as the Thanksgiving Address, can guide us to a more sustainable relationship
with the natural world.
Reference: Kimmerer, R. W. (2015).
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