Book talk - "In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations: Conversations about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Nature"
Given the relentless and urgent environmental crisis, it is increasingly important to envision a way forward for all our relations and future generations. To ensure establishing equal, respectful, and productive conversations and solutions between Tribes and other partners, an Indigenous-led approach has emerged.
As told to Kurt Russo with a foreword by Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem (Lummi) and illustrations by Fiorella De La O (Quechua), In The Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations seeks to promote dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, increase understandings, build relationships and momentum, and inspire action to support, protect, and restore our region’s imperiled lands, waters, and lifeways. The book was inspirited by an Indigenous gathering, where those present spoke from the heart and the mind to the idea of what it means to be in right and respectful relations.
In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations is split into seven sections under the overarching theme of right and respectful relations with: the Reader, the Creation, History & the Law, Nature, Empathy & Identity, Honor, and Technology. Desired outcomes include identifying cultural affinities between participating Indigenous Peoples; establishing Indigenous-led, place-based caretaking knowledge, providing a strategic foundation for future collaboration, and sharing the indigenous ancestral knowledge and their narratives.
The vision of In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations is to draw on ancestral knowledge to further empower and inspire Indigenous-led environmental campaigns with non-Indigenous allies and partners to the benefit of Mother Earth and all her relations down to the seventh generation.
Kurt Russo, Ph.D. is the Co-Executive Director of Se’Si’Le. Russo has worked since 1978 with Native Nations on treaty rights, protective management of sacred sites, and conflict resolution. He is the former Executive Director of the Florence R. Kluckhohn Center for the Study of Values and the Native American Land Conservancy.
Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem (Lummi) is the President of Se’Si’Le. A fisherman, Former Chairman and Councilman at Lummi Nation, Jay was a leader in the fight to protect Xwe’chi’eXen (Cherry Point). He has organized and executed Tribal, local, regional, and national campaigns. A bridge-builder, he uses empathy and storytelling to bring people together. Principal at Julius Consulting LLC.
Se’Si’Le is an Indigenous led, Bellingham-based non-profit that works to protect Indigenous areas, resources, and sacred sites.