Comments on: Talk to plants and proud of it; some of them even answer back http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/ There is a difference between what we experience and what we think it means Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:09:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mary Lupin http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-7345 Mary Lupin Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:33:46 +0000 http://tailfeather.ca/?p=697#comment-7345 That thing about how the indigenous see non-human animals is a huuuuuuuge thing. The ones I know have no simple position with regard to how the self relates to the non-self - no more than any other human being. The deal is that the patterns of relationship differ, but they kill, pollute, maim and take up space just as much as do Europeans and other non-indigenous people. At least in my experience. But on this - you know I feel some posts coming on about this. Partly this is because in the last few days I've been in an environment that feels so much like home (and the Rez) that I am astounded - and having a hard time leaving. Yet there isn't an Indian in sight. Well - none that are copping to it. That thing about how the indigenous see non-human animals is a huuuuuuuge thing. The ones I know have no simple position with regard to how the self relates to the non-self – no more than any other human being. The deal is that the patterns of relationship differ, but they kill, pollute, maim and take up space just as much as do Europeans and other non-indigenous people. At least in my experience. But on this – you know I feel some posts coming on about this. Partly this is because in the last few days I’ve been in an environment that feels so much like home (and the Rez) that I am astounded – and having a hard time leaving. Yet there isn’t an Indian in sight. Well – none that are copping to it.

]]> By: Cathy Sander http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-7337 Cathy Sander Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:26:02 +0000 http://tailfeather.ca/?p=697#comment-7337 "We just managed to get the notion of other humans of different colour (etc) as kin. It’s probably going to take a while before we accept the furry and feathered." I wonder how well the indigenous peoples of North America see non-human animals as kin, as compared with the migrant population of Europeans into the United States. I do suspect, though, that when we have a deeper understanding of our natural origins, we may also consider (as did Carl Sagan) non-living entities as kin, like the stars. It's an interesting possibility, though. “We just managed to get the notion of other humans of different colour (etc) as kin. It’s probably going to take a while before we accept the furry and feathered.”

I wonder how well the indigenous peoples of North America see non-human animals as kin, as compared with the migrant population of Europeans into the United States.

I do suspect, though, that when we have a deeper understanding of our natural origins, we may also consider (as did Carl Sagan) non-living entities as kin, like the stars. It’s an interesting possibility, though.

]]> By: Mary Lupin http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-7219 Mary Lupin Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:07:36 +0000 http://tailfeather.ca/?p=697#comment-7219 To put in a good word here, some anthropologists are starting to abandon the term "fictive kinship" since it is apparent that not all societies structure "family" through genetic relationship. The West's obsession with "true" children (that is of genetic relationship to the daddy and therefore with rights to his property) has been disrupted by the change in gender relations and technology with respect to childbearing, and this is showing up in theory. Still, the emotional tenacity in the idea of human separateness means that we have a long way to go before our society can encompass non-human life as "related" in a significant way. We just managed to get the notion of other humans of different colour (etc) as kin. It's probably going to take a while before we accept the furry and feathered. To put in a good word here, some anthropologists are starting to abandon the term “fictive kinship” since it is apparent that not all societies structure “family” through genetic relationship. The West’s obsession with “true” children (that is of genetic relationship to the daddy and therefore with rights to his property) has been disrupted by the change in gender relations and technology with respect to childbearing, and this is showing up in theory. Still, the emotional tenacity in the idea of human separateness means that we have a long way to go before our society can encompass non-human life as “related” in a significant way. We just managed to get the notion of other humans of different colour (etc) as kin. It’s probably going to take a while before we accept the furry and feathered.

]]> By: Cathy Sander http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-7203 Cathy Sander Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:35:04 +0000 http://tailfeather.ca/?p=697#comment-7203 I do sense that the term "fictive kin" is misleading, since in a deep way, the plants and us <i>are</i> related on the Tree of Life. But this sort of connection is somewhat hard to see directly, except through personal experience and the best of our understanding of the world. I do sense that the term “fictive kin” is misleading, since in a deep way, the plants and us are related on the Tree of Life. But this sort of connection is somewhat hard to see directly, except through personal experience and the best of our understanding of the world.

]]> By: Mary Lupin http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4729 Mary Lupin Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:13:11 +0000 http://tailfeather.ca/?p=697#comment-4729 I wonder sometimes if there could be an empirical study looking at an increase in pleasure (fMRI, perhaps) through being on a first-name basis with the plants in the person's local area. I suspect that allowing plants to be "fictive" kin would increase our sense of responsibility to the earth, and that our load of personal happiness would get heavier. I wonder sometimes if there could be an empirical study looking at an increase in pleasure (fMRI, perhaps) through being on a first-name basis with the plants in the person’s local area. I suspect that allowing plants to be “fictive” kin would increase our sense of responsibility to the earth, and that our load of personal happiness would get heavier.

]]> By: Cathy Sander http://tailfeather.ca/2009/09/talk-to-plants-and-proud-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4721 Cathy Sander Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:34:10 +0000 http://tailfeather.ca/?p=697#comment-4721 I feel quite at home with that idea; as a young child, I used to feel in resonance with the winds and the trees which swayed about. I feel quite at home with that idea; as a young child, I used to feel in resonance with the winds and the trees which swayed about.

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