Pedagogy of the Ancestors

by Patrick B. Reyes

Pedagogy of the Ancestors is a practical and inspiring guide for anyone called to teach, mentor, and shape future generations with intention, humility, and compassion, knowing that our daily choices are the rain that waters the seeds of tomorrow.

Ancestors embody the past, and they also offer spiritual guidance and friendship to those coming of age. We see this across cultures and religious traditions. Communities rely on ancestral wisdom to educate and nurture future generations, but oppressive systems sever these roots. In Pedagogy of the Ancestors, Patrick Reyes explores the transformative roles of ancestors, as living memories and semidivine beings, in guiding and teaching younger generations. 

Readers are invited to rethink education as rooted in our relationships with those who came before and those who will come after. Reyes calls on educators, caregivers, religious leaders, pastors, and mentors to teach and live as the ancestors our descendants deserve. Pedagogy of the Ancestors shares educational practices for those creating spaces of belonging and accountability, providing guidance on the skills and perspectives needed to mentor young people effectively. Through storytelling, rituals, and grounded exercises, readers are invited to reflect on their lineages, recognizing the gifts and traumas they inherit so that they may pass on hope and healing to the next generation.

Drawing on Indigenous wisdom, spiritual traditions, and Reyes’s experience as a scholar and pastor, Pedagogy of the Ancestors reframes education and mentorship as relational, future-oriented work. It emphasizes forming character, cultivating joy, and creating spaces where young people can flourish. Whether working with children, teenagers, or young adults, readers are encouraged to live on ancestor time, considering how their choices ripple across generations. Ultimately, the book challenges us to live at the speed of love, honor our ancestors by becoming cycle breakers, and sow seeds of healing for a flourishing future.

184 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2026

About the author

Dr. Patrick B. Reyes is the author of The Purpose Gap: Empowering Communities of Color to Find Meaning and Thrive, and of the award-winning book Nobody Cries When We Die: God, Community, and Surviving to Adulthood. A Chicano educator, administrator, and institutional strategist, he currently serves as Senior Director of Learning Design at the Forum for Theological Exploration, where his portfolio includes oversight of organizational thought leadership, resource development, and annual grant funding. He is president-elect of the Religious Education Association and serves on several boards in higher education, elementary education, and the non-profit sector supporting the next generation of leaders and educators of color. You can learn more about Patrick at patrickbreyes.com.

Patrick holds a Doctorate and Master of Arts from Claremont School of Theology, a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, and is proud to be a graduate of the California State education system, California State University at Sacramento (Sac State).