Seventh Generation Earth Ethics: Native Voices of Wisconsin

by Patty Loew

Wisconsin's rich tradition of sustainability rightfully includes its First Americans, who along with Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and Gaylord Nelson shaped its landscape and informed its "earth ethics." This collection of Native biographies, one from each of the twelve Indian nations of Wisconsin, introduces the reader to some of the most important figures in Native sustainability: from anti-mining activists like Walt Bresette (Red Cliff Ojibwe) and Hillary Waukau (Menominee) to treaty rights advocates like James Schlender (Lac Courte Oreille Ojibwe), artists like Truman Lowe (Ho-Chunk), and educators like Dorothy "Dot" Davids (Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians), along with tribal geneologists, land stewards, and preservers of language and culture. Each of the biographies speaks to traditional ecological values and cultural sensibilities, highlighting men and women who helped to sustain and nurture their nations in the past and present.
The Native people whose lives are depicted in "Seventh Generation Earth Ethics" understood the cultural gravity that kept their people rooted to their ancestral lands and acted in ways that ensured the growth and success of future generations. In this way they honor the Ojibwe Seventh Generation philosophy, which cautions decision makers to consider how their actions will affect seven generations in the future--some 240 years.

Genres: Nature, Indigenous, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Environment, Native American

230 pages, Hardcover

First published July 9, 2014

Reviews

[Casey]

This was my DEAR book all semester and I finally finished it today. What 15 minutes thrice a week will do to ya.

This is a collection of well-researched biographies of Native American activists in Wisconsin. Informative and worth the read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The U.S. government's history of dealing with Native Americans and breaking treaties is appalling. This book is a collection of short biographies of Native leaders and the work they have done for their people. We just took their land and relocated them. Yes, we did. Sometimes several times, moving them further west. Not to mention wiping out their population with diseases they had no immunity to, and putting them in Catholic schools far from their families where their culture was totally eradicated. It is shameful. I have always felt an affinity to Native peoples (ever since reading Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee in the 1970s) because they appreciate the land, nature and the earth in general. Trees, natural places, clean water, these are more important than making money and profiting off the land. I support their vision that you must look to the future and how our descendants will be affected by our decisions seven generations into the future. No to piplines, yes to clean drinking water.

[Irene MacFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal profiles

Introduced to activists and leaders through more than a report of their contributions. Honest descriptions of the individuals as members of their families & their culture. A meeting of the elders.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly valuable reference book for those interested in Wisconsin history, indigenous biographies, and Native American studies. The short biographies give insight into land rights, sovereignty, and the environment from a Native viewpoint.

[Emily Koester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and interesting to read these profiles, most of people I did not know of before this book. Well organized and with a nice selection of voices.

[Tamea Tamea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading in every high school in Wisconsin!

What a wonderful compilation of stories from each of the twelve tribes in Wisconsin.

[Sandra Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong this is a good book, but not written in a very entertaining style for me. And I agree that is not the point of the book. The point is being an activist for change. The author picks one person-living or dead- from each of the 11 Wisconsin tribes to highlight: a brief biography. All of these individuals are passionate about being 1)advocates for their tribes and other tribes, 2) land stewards, 3) preservers of language and culture, and 4) genealogists or a combination of some or all the these attributes.These are individuals who put others before themselves and were articulate spokespersons. I think a very good book for people that don't understand how important the land and culture is to the Native Americans. I learned about some outstanding individuals, that I hope this book can inspire others to carry on with the fight.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Select stories from leaders of Wisconsin's twelve Indian nations are included in this interesting book of native culture, treaty rights, traditions, education / boarding schools, tribal sovereignty, disease, and recognition ... things we don't learn about in school. The well-researched stories describe the plight of the Native Americans and their fortitude in keeping their culture alive while so much was against them, and in some aspects, still is.

[Melinda Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of biographies of twelve Wisconsin Native American leaders who have sought to maintain, advocate, advance and preserve Indigenous ways of life, culture, and values. Most of the stories also tied into the different tribe's values of creation care. Overall, this gave me some insight into the people I live among in Wisconsin and their history. I heard about this book on public radio and am glad I picked it up.

[Terrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patty Loew, Native American journalist, historian, educator, filmmaker, penned this sobering collection of short biographies of twelve indigenous leaders, one for each of the twelve nations in Wisconsin. Each represents the sustainability at the heart of Native culture. Each understands the lifestyle that honors their ancestral lands and keeps it alive for the generations that follow.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't describe my appreciation for this book...to know what has been done to our native people, and to know it is still a fight that they engage in for their good and the good of our whole earth...it is overpowering. That it is very much in present time is painful.