Decriminalize Nature’s Declaration on Indigeneity, Sacred Plant Medicines, and Sustainability.
1. Decriminalize Nature recognizes the critical state of humanity relative to its relationship with the Great Mother, our Earth, and that the way we act toward our Creator’s gifts must improve quickly if we are to pass to our children, and our children’s children, the beautiful and bountiful planet our ancestors inherited.
2. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that while the western ways, worldviews, and
approaches to science, policymaking, social organization, and economic and political models have led to many discoveries and innovations for humanity, the western worldview has unnecessarily relied on exploitation and extraction of resources from communities and from the Great Mother in ways which are harmful to all.
3. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that for humanity to thrive and arrive to its next level of collective awareness, it must draw upon the ancient wisdom of all of our ancestors who lived from the Indigenous Worldview1 upon this Earth, and fulfill the Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor2, which foresaw the day when the wisdom of the indigenous worldviews, represented by the Condor, would merge with the technological and scientific innovation of the western worldview, represented by the Eagle, enabling humanity to make wiser choices, from compassion and cooperation, as it creates its new technologies.
2. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that while the western ways, worldviews, and
approaches to science, policymaking, social organization, and economic and political models have led to many discoveries and innovations for humanity, the western worldview has unnecessarily relied on exploitation and extraction of resources from communities and from the Great Mother in ways which are harmful to all.
3. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that for humanity to thrive and arrive to its next level of collective awareness, it must draw upon the ancient wisdom of all of our ancestors who lived from the Indigenous Worldview1 upon this Earth, and fulfill the Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor2, which foresaw the day when the wisdom of the indigenous worldviews, represented by the Condor, would merge with the technological and scientific innovation of the western worldview, represented by the Eagle, enabling humanity to make wiser choices, from compassion and cooperation, as it creates its new technologies.
1 Michael Anthony Hart of the University of Manitoba writes in Volume 1 Issue 1 of Journal of Indigenous Voices in Social Work (February 2010) https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jisd/article/view/63043/46988: “There appear to be many commonalities between Indigenous worldviews (Fitznor, 1998; Gill, 2002; Rice, 2005). McKenzie and Morrissette (2003) explained that Indigenous worldviews emerged as a result of the people’s close relationship with the environment. They outlined six metaphysical beliefs of Indigenous peoples that have shaped this relationship: ‘All things exist according to the principle of survival; the act of survival pulses with the natural energy and cycles of the earth; this energy is part of some grand design; all things have a role to perform to ensure balance and harmony and the overall wellbeing of life; all things are an extension of the grand design, and, as such, contain the same essence as the source from which it flows (Gitchi-Munitou); and this essence is understood as “spirit,” which links all things to each other and to Creation. (p. 259)’. (emphasis added by authors of this document) “Leanne Simpson (2000) outlined seven principles of Indigenous worldviews. First, knowledge is holistic, cyclic, and dependent upon relationships and connections to living and non-living beings and entities. Second, there are many truths, and these truths are dependent upon individual experiences. Third, everything is alive. Fourth, all things are equal. Fifth, the land is sacred. Sixth, the relationship between people and the spiritual world is important. Seventh, human beings are least important in the world.” (emphasis added by authors of this document) 2 The Eagle and the Condor prophecy of the Amazon speaks of long ago when human societies split into two different paths— that of the Eagle and that of the Condor. The path of the Condor is the path of heart, of intuition, and of the feminine. The path of the Eagle is the path of the mind, of the industrial, and of the masculine. The Eagle and Condor prophecy says that the 1490s would begin a 500-year period during which the Eagle people would become so powerful that they would nearly drive the Condor people out of existence. This can be seen in the conquering of the Americas and the killing and oppressing of the indigenous peoples in the subsequent 500 years—up to and including today. The prophecy says that during the next 500-year period, beginning in 1990, the potential would arise for the Eagle and the Condor to come together, to fly in the same sky, and to create a new level of consciousness for humanity. The prophecy only speaks of the potential, so it's up to humanity to activate this potential and ensure that a new consciousness is allowed to arise. Source: https://blog.pachamama.org/the-eagleand- the-condor-prophecy
4. Decriminalize Nature has been, from its birth, a movement emergent from the indigenous worldview, recognizing that what is needed in this moment in human history is to stand for radical indigenousness3 where solutions to the world’s greatest social and ecological challenges must include compassion, inclusivity, and reverence for all of nature and nature’s creations, including our fellow humans, and from this world view, the re-emergence of the power of the Divine Feminine4 to balance the masculine is of paramount importance.
5. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that approaches and strategies enabling colonization include divide-and-conquer strategies where the dominant powers grant to some classes within the oppressed populations certain privileges denied to others; criminalization of people to control non-conforming behaviors; and top-down command-and-control political and economic structures which rely on the narrowing awareness of the general populations so they become increasingly unaware of the causes of their subjugation.
6. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that policies and practices based on greed, fear, or control, including efforts to suppress some voices over others, will only delay the needed emergence of human consciousness. Policies which include criminalization of people for acting upon their calling by Spirit to connect with Nature’s sacred medicines are fundamentally grounded in colonization-based frameworks and are unnecessary for the protection of sacred plants and cultural practices. Criminalization, suppression, subjugation, and command-and-control practices have never worked as tools to manage people’s behaviors.
7. Instead, the indigenous worldview calls for our community to engage in efforts to educate, rather than berate; to guide rather than criminalize; and to support rather than incarcerate. As mindful parents eventually come to learn, when we teach and guide our children with compassion, their inner light and beauty emerges. When we demand and punish our children, they rebel.
8. Decriminalize Nature recognizes and honors that people who are called by Spirit to follow the indigenous worldview are called to do so regardless of skin color, ethnicity, race, cultural background, or religion, and no person, tribe, council of tribes, non-profit, or government entity has the right to diminish, criticize, or reject a choice by anyone, regardless of their skin-color or ancestral history, to follow the path of the indigenous worldview.
9. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that the current grand struggle of humanity is a battle of paradigms—chief among these battles is the western worldview of scarcity, fear, and
5. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that approaches and strategies enabling colonization include divide-and-conquer strategies where the dominant powers grant to some classes within the oppressed populations certain privileges denied to others; criminalization of people to control non-conforming behaviors; and top-down command-and-control political and economic structures which rely on the narrowing awareness of the general populations so they become increasingly unaware of the causes of their subjugation.
6. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that policies and practices based on greed, fear, or control, including efforts to suppress some voices over others, will only delay the needed emergence of human consciousness. Policies which include criminalization of people for acting upon their calling by Spirit to connect with Nature’s sacred medicines are fundamentally grounded in colonization-based frameworks and are unnecessary for the protection of sacred plants and cultural practices. Criminalization, suppression, subjugation, and command-and-control practices have never worked as tools to manage people’s behaviors.
7. Instead, the indigenous worldview calls for our community to engage in efforts to educate, rather than berate; to guide rather than criminalize; and to support rather than incarcerate. As mindful parents eventually come to learn, when we teach and guide our children with compassion, their inner light and beauty emerges. When we demand and punish our children, they rebel.
8. Decriminalize Nature recognizes and honors that people who are called by Spirit to follow the indigenous worldview are called to do so regardless of skin color, ethnicity, race, cultural background, or religion, and no person, tribe, council of tribes, non-profit, or government entity has the right to diminish, criticize, or reject a choice by anyone, regardless of their skin-color or ancestral history, to follow the path of the indigenous worldview.
9. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that the current grand struggle of humanity is a battle of paradigms—chief among these battles is the western worldview of scarcity, fear, and
3 Radical is used here in the literal sense: 1. (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough. 2. advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change. Definition from the Oxford Dictionary 4 See a description of the role of the Divine Feminine here by author Shani Jay: https://sheroserevolution.com/shanijay/whatis- the-divine-feminine-how-to-awaken-her-power-within/
competition vs. the indigenous worldview of abundance, compassion, and cooperation. For humanity to emerge victorious in this battle we must open the tent of “indigeneity” to all who are called to live a life from a place of ancient wisdom in connection with Creator and all beings.
10. Decriminalize Nature encourages all people of this loving planet to pursue a path of compassion and cooperation in our common struggle to live well with each other and the Great Mother. From this path, we see that criminalization of nature, and top-down command-and-control models for managing behaviors only lead to rebellion and covert behavior. But if we can learn to trust in the goodness of humanity, and invest in the light within each other, we will learn to live sustainably with Nature and Her gifts through education, guidance, and support.
11. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that the sacred plant medicines provided by Creator, and stewarded by all of our ancient ancestors who walked this planet for thousands of years before colonization, industrialization, and commodification, are portals enabling any and all people who approach these medicines with reverence to connect with Spirit and the Divine, and to find their way back home to the indigenous worldview.
12. While Decriminalize Nature recognizes and honors the ancient and current stewards and teachers of these plant medicines, because we recognize the supremacy of Creator and Mother Earth above all else, we understand there can be no “owners” or “controllers” of any plant medicines, and we ask all who perceive themselves to be the “owners” or “controllers” of any specific species of plant or fungi medicines to trust in the goodness of the light within all people and to choose to educate and guide, rather than criminalize and control.
13. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that certain plants and fungi species are currently threatened or becoming increasingly threatened in their native habitat. We understand the very human reaction to become fearful and to try to control human behavior by continuing with policies which criminalize certain activities. But if we have learned anything from the War on Drugs, it should be that humans will rebel from commandand- control approaches which seek to force their behaviors. But, on the other hand, humans thrive when they are treated with respect, inclusivity, and offered the generous gifts of guidance and education, especially from people they respect and admire.
14. Therefore, Decriminalize Nature encourages all people to explore what it means to live from the indigenous worldview, with compassion for, and in cooperation with, all of humanity and with the Great Mother; and to move away from fear-based policies of punishment and control and to move toward policies of education, guidance, and support, especially as they pertain to our sacred plant and fungi medicines.
10. Decriminalize Nature encourages all people of this loving planet to pursue a path of compassion and cooperation in our common struggle to live well with each other and the Great Mother. From this path, we see that criminalization of nature, and top-down command-and-control models for managing behaviors only lead to rebellion and covert behavior. But if we can learn to trust in the goodness of humanity, and invest in the light within each other, we will learn to live sustainably with Nature and Her gifts through education, guidance, and support.
11. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that the sacred plant medicines provided by Creator, and stewarded by all of our ancient ancestors who walked this planet for thousands of years before colonization, industrialization, and commodification, are portals enabling any and all people who approach these medicines with reverence to connect with Spirit and the Divine, and to find their way back home to the indigenous worldview.
12. While Decriminalize Nature recognizes and honors the ancient and current stewards and teachers of these plant medicines, because we recognize the supremacy of Creator and Mother Earth above all else, we understand there can be no “owners” or “controllers” of any plant medicines, and we ask all who perceive themselves to be the “owners” or “controllers” of any specific species of plant or fungi medicines to trust in the goodness of the light within all people and to choose to educate and guide, rather than criminalize and control.
13. Decriminalize Nature recognizes that certain plants and fungi species are currently threatened or becoming increasingly threatened in their native habitat. We understand the very human reaction to become fearful and to try to control human behavior by continuing with policies which criminalize certain activities. But if we have learned anything from the War on Drugs, it should be that humans will rebel from commandand- control approaches which seek to force their behaviors. But, on the other hand, humans thrive when they are treated with respect, inclusivity, and offered the generous gifts of guidance and education, especially from people they respect and admire.
14. Therefore, Decriminalize Nature encourages all people to explore what it means to live from the indigenous worldview, with compassion for, and in cooperation with, all of humanity and with the Great Mother; and to move away from fear-based policies of punishment and control and to move toward policies of education, guidance, and support, especially as they pertain to our sacred plant and fungi medicines.
