Ethics Lab - Aboriginal Perspectives: What have we lost?

This lab contains questions covering The Earth People Philosophy by Wallace Black Elk.

1. Who are: the Thunder-beings, the winged people, the creeping-crawlers, the stone people?

2. How would you characterize the religion described by Wallace Black Elk, is it theistic, panentheistic or pantheisitic?

Why?

 

3. The basis of all knowledge is found in what 4 parts of the earth? What does each represent?

4. Where does evil come from according to Wallace Black Elk?

5. Who are the "powers of the Four Winds"?

6. What is the Tree of Life? How does this differ from the tree of knowledge?

7. What is the Chanunpa? What importance is it in Sioux religion?

8. Wallace says, "there are alot of two-leggeds walking around here that are dead". What is he talking about?

9. What are the fours stages of development for the Sioux shaman?

10. What are the six sacred directions for the Sioux?

11. According to Wallace, "every green has a song" and "rocks have songs". What is he talking about?

12. How does this view of the universe/earth compare to modern western ideas? Is the "land ethic" compatible with the "earth people philosophy"? Please provide any insights you have.