Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak about the Earth

by Steven McFadden

Taking the lead from John F. Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize winning Profiles in Courage , Steven McFadden presents the stories and thinking of 17 Native American spiritual elders. As our existing culture shifts, what do the ancient ones who have been trained in the sacred traditions of Turtle Island (America) have to say to us? With this question and others, journalist McFadden begins his quest to speak with contemporary Native American elders. The elders offer penetrating and poetic insight on a host of crucial matters.

Genres: Nonfiction

260 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

My main website and blog is Chiron Communications, as linked above. Here are other points of connection:

My Deep Agroecology blog:
https://deepagroecology.org/

Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/chiron-commu...

Threads:
https://www.threads.com/@steven.mcfad...

Linked In:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-mc...

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf for several years. I am not sure why I never got around to reading it until now. The book was originally published in 1991. However, the way in which the native elders talk about current conditions could just as easily apply to today. In 1991, people were talking about climate change and these elders nailed the situation. Here I am, reading their wisdom over 30 years later. Nothing has changed in the way humans treat Mother Earth. Nothing has changed in the wisdom of the elders and the way they view the situation. Many of their words are profound in ways beyond just climate. It is a book filled with wisdom that is well worth reading and pondering.

[Tamra]

There is a passage explaining the concept of "council" that is a must read for Congressional representatives! Sit in a circle. Have a talking stick and a questioning stick in the middle. It seems a quaint concept to build consensus and expect to make concessions to solve a problem.

I liked another passage that asserted that feminine energy is what is going to change the world--combined with masculine energy. "The Goddess is the weaver of Life, nurturing, compassionate, always loving, the life-giving essence of existence. Through her we may find peace and reason once again, with strength to continue our path of life on this beautiful planet."

"For the last five thousand years we've had a male-dominated, male-oriented society bent on war and conquest. Somewhere on this planet, for five thousand years, there's been war...Ultimately, the masculine and the feminine must be balanced."

I also liked the writing about Indian Medicine as dedicated to preservation of health and well-being achieved via "faith in sacred beliefs, individual involvement, family and clan involvement, knowledge and use of natural helpers such as herbs, meditation, ceremonial practices, blance and harmony, and an individual seeking their own way to health."

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i began reading this book randomly, but some of the ideas from the people really hit me. It helped me see how the things i find normal in society are actually unnatural. Sometimes I would just feel creeped out by how accurate the Elders in the book could describe my life or the life of people that I know. I would recommend this book only if you're willing to see your life in a new way.

[Mare Cromwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book quite inspiring and informative. The author interviews a number of different Native elders and medicine people and they speak about the prophecies, their culture, and belief systems. A powerful book.