A practical exploration of Indigenous and circle peoples ideas about time

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Vocabulary bowls - Circle peoples

As Elder Sol Wawatie told us that definitions would come through the work we are sharing them as "bowls" instead of definitive definitions.  As we learn more we can adapt our vocabulary.  This document defines "Circle peoples" and Pimastew which is Cree for "Linear Peoples".  There is no intention of value of one over the other.

Circle Peoples bowl

  • Values related to community, relationships with ancestors/ Elders and ceremony
  •  Collectivist orientation    
  • Holistic/balanced
  • Non- linear time – past and future exists now
  • Decolonizing
  • Principals based – defining spaces for becoming and growing
  •  Restorative justice – other focused
  •  Matrilineal
  •   Places for linear thinkers to support the circles

Linear Peoples bowl

  • Time is linear – winners and losers, “progress”, silos (religion, economy, society and politics)
  • Patriarchal
  • Rules based – goal focused, rule of law vs restoration of justice
  • Taking – consuming, need for more, hungry always
  • Often motivated by a fear of loss

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