Don Four Arrows Jacobs
on Restoring the Kinship Worldview
In the Indigenous Worldview, fear is seen as an opportunity to put a virtue into practice.
“Fearless Engagement” means having the courage to follow through with grace while in fear mode, and having faith in the Universe that everything will work out. Fearfully walking on a sentient Earth.
Don Four Arrows Jacobs (Wahinkpe Topa) is the author of 24 books, half of which bring to light the Indigenous Worldview as an essential pillar for education, sustainability, wellness and justice. Selected as one of 27 "Visionaries in Education”, Don is a Professor of Leadership Studies at Fielding Graduate University.
He believes that indigenous spirituality encourages an inclusive consciousness, where contrasting perspectives can co-exist. A complementary non-duality, where nothing is dominant. Instead of division, there are spaces of dialogue, where diverse conflicting views can be safely shared.
The key message in his latest book, Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth, is that human survival and the wellbeing of future generations depend on how we honor the wisdom of the Heart. Indigenous Leaders hold the much-needed wisdom for our times, illuminating the path towards an interconnected, regenerative future.
What a beautiful philosophy of the two competing worldviews: the current dominant worldview and the kinship worldview. “Kinship” means seeing the world as a sacred and unified entity. A connected partnership worldview that puts co-creation and unification of everything that’s alive at its center: humans, animals, nature.
Fun fact: Don was first alternate for the 1996 Olympic Equestrian Endurance Team and placed 4th in the World Championship Old Time Piano Contest.
Don Four Arrows Jacobs encourages us to be our authentic selves and learn from the most powerful teacher humanity has got: nature.
Thanks, Wahinkpe Topa, for being a Kindred Spirit!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Don “Four Arrows” Jacobs (Wahinkpe Topa)
Company / Institution: Fielding Graduate University
Title: Professor
Website: https://www.fourarrowsbooks.com
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-four-arrows-jacobs-5b714810/
Country of origin: USA
Country you currently live in: Mexico
Your personal definition of Sustainability: Authentic respect for all with a sense of responsibility, relationship and reciprocity with place.
Main business challenge you face: The challenge of decolonizing/Indigenizing education.
Main driver that keeps you going: Appreciating the gift of life and helping others realize it.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Striving toward my full positive potentiality and helping others do the same.
The trait you most value in others: Generosity.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Stand-up paddle board surfing, piano playing and handball.
The #inspirators who determined you to take the sustainability path:
Jack London
Four Bears
Ronnie Wise
Vandana Shiva
Uncle Rich Jacobs
A hint or starting point for companies or professionals that are taking the first steps in the sustainability journey: Non-binary meta-cognitive and collective worldview reflection starting with CAT-FAWN technology.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: “Going green” when not!
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Congratulations on having the wisdom and courage to let go of the delusion of hope as a desired outcome and redefine it as the certainty that what they are doing is the right thing to do regardless of the outcome.
Must-reads for any Sustainability professional: Some of the books I wrote!
Sitting Bull’s Words
Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth
Point of Departure: Returning to Our More Authentic Worldview for Education and Survival
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again: King Leopold’s Ghost.
Blogs / Websites / Podcasts etc. you visit frequently: Jeremy Lent.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: Shine on, Harvest Moon (Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth).
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: Cooper Canyon (Rio Urique River) in Mexico.
Trends in Sustainability we should keep an eye on: Worldview reflection.
Best places for business networking (online or offline): ProvenSustainable.org
Sustainable Development courses / trainings / certifications that really teach us how to have an impact: My CAT-FAWN course.
Your own quote that will inspire us:
