Episode # 154: Restoring Relations This Thanksgiving with Chief Phillip Scott

November 27, 2024

In this special episode, we explore the complex history and deeper meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday. We welcome Community Leader Chief Phillip Scott to guide us in reflecting on living in right relationship with the land, ourselves, and each other.

Chief Phillip Scott is a respected elder and spiritual leader of the Lakota tradition. He has dedicated his life to protecting and preserving indigenous ways of living and traditional ceremonial practices.

This episode invites us to reframe our approach to Thanksgiving - to tap into deeper wells of gratitude, reconnect with the land, and honor the original caretakers. Join us as we unwind the stories we've been told and explore how to live in greater alignment with principles of harmony for all.

In this episode, we cover:

Lakota Way of Being and Gratitude
Life in Indigenous Communities Before European Arrival
Seasonal Cycles and Indigenous Practices
Historical Context and Indigenous Responses
The Doctrine of Discovery, Indigenous Resistance and Erasure
Migratory Impulse and Land Acquisition
Importance of acknowledging the pain and suffering of Indigenous people
The Standing Rock issue and the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights and self-determination
Thanksgiving as a time of remembrance and acknowledging the grief and sadness
The importance of deepening connections with oneself and the natural world
The role of traditional healers in listening to people's stories and the messages from their ancestors
Ancestral Voice, Institute for Indigenous Lifeways mission
The current state of Indigenous People in America