Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change

by Sherri Mitchell, Larry Dossey MD (Foreword by)

Overview

A narrative of Indigenous wisdom that provides a road map for the spirit and a compass of compassion for humanity

Drawing from ancestral knowledge, as well as her experience as an attorney and activist, Sherri Mitchell addresses some of the most crucial issues of our day, such as environmental protection and human rights. Sharing the gifts she has received from elders around the world, Mitchell urges us to decolonize our language and our stories. For those seeking change, this book offers a set of cultural values that will preserve our collective survival for future generations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623171957
Publisher:	North Atlantic Books
Publication date:	02/13/2018
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	125,220
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

SHERRI MITCHELL was born and raised on the Penobscot Indian reservation. She received her Juris Doctorate and a Certificate in Indigenous People's Law and Policy from the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law. She is an alumna of the American Indian Ambassador program, and the Udall Native American Congressional Internship program. She is the Founding Director of the Land Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to the global protection of indigenous rights and the preservation of the indigenous way of life. Sherri speaks and teaches around the world on issues of indigenous rights, environmental justice, spiritual activism and transformational change. Sherri is also the co-host of Love (and revolution) Radio, a syndicated radio program that highlights stories of heart-based activism and revolutionary spiritual change.

Editorial Reviews

12/11/2017
Lawyer and activist Mitchell, a member of the Penawahpskek (Penobscot) Nation, offers an all-embracing message of human connectedness that will resonate widely. Drawing on her own spiritual experiences, Mitchell argues that all human beings are inextricably connected to one another and to the natural world, and that the history of the United States is one of conquest and genocide driven by Christian religious extremism. New stories of wholeness and interconnection are urgently needed, she says, to turn society from its currently destructive path. She writes that coming to terms with a history of violence, decolonizing natural and social resources (like courts and schools), rejecting patriarchal hierarchies, and recentering communal values can help to create a new and better future. The work contrasts the values of community, collaboration, and inclusivity (which Mitchell positions as intrinsically Native American) with Euro-American individuality, competition, and exclusivity. Those who don’t share Mitchell’s beliefs in the interconnectedness of all will probably not be swayed by her arguments. However, tradition-specific language aside, the ethics and practices Mitchell promotes (particularly universal oneness) are shared widely across many world religions, and their articulation here—grounded in indigenous North American Wabanaki spiritual traditions—is a welcome resource. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Sacred Instructions is an important book that synthesizes a wealth of information in an approachable and empowering way. Mitchell’s steady, assured tone and recommendations for action makes this a rewarding book for anyone looking for a way to engage in less conflict-based, more effective community change."
—Foreword

“A deeply personal meditation and call to consciousness and transformation, Sacred Instructions challenges the way we see and experience the world around us. For many readers, the book will reveal the first steps toward a process of self-discovery and spiritual awareness that Mitchell shows us must be lived and breathed every day on our own personal journeys of decolonization and patient recovery of an indigenized worldview.”
—Robert A. Williams, Jr., chair of the University of Arizona Indigenous People's Law and Policy Program and author of Savage Anxieties

“In this compelling book, Sherri Mitchell helps all of us understand the experience of First Nations peoples and helps us to embody that unique wisdom. She brings forth a broad understanding of cultural and generational trauma in a way that supports deep healing. The wisdom of this courageous book is profound and inspiring. It is recommended for anyone wanting the healing of self, society, and of our shared planet.”
—Peter A. Levine, PhD, author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma

“In this passionate prayer for reclaiming and celebrating indigenous wisdom, sacred activist Sherri Mitchell invites everyone to the table. Both Native and non-Native peoples have been suffering from the ongoing trauma of colonization. The remedy is a conscious and loving embrace of core cultural values of reverence for the earth and clear-sighted collaboration. Mitchell’s intelligent writing and wise heart light the way.”
—Mirabai Starr, translator of Dark Night of the Soul: John of the Cross and author of Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation

"Lawyer and activist Mitchell, a member of the Penawahpskek (Penobscot) Nation, offers an all-embracing message of human connectedness that will resonate widely."
—Publishers Weekly

"Mitchell introduces a rich, sophisticated, and socially aware spirituality. Anyone interested in holistic faith traditions will find her work rewarding."
—Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
Buddhist philosophy and Christian theology so frequently compete for attention that alternative voices of faith are often not heard. Mitchell (executive director, Land Peace Fdn.) introduces a rich, sophisticated, and socially aware spirituality. A member of the Penobscot Nation, the author draws from myths and histories of many Native peoples that are filtered through her story, family, ancestors, and elders. For instance, the creation story she tells is not simply an account of origins but of how her people come to relate to one another and their place along Maine's Penobscot River. Whether discussing social justice, environmental activism, Native rights, diversity, war and peace, and a myriad other topics, the author raises particularities of our universal connections that are contrasted with modern attempts to make the universal an abstraction. She concludes with a series of Native prophecies that are at once a promise of a time of renewal and a call to action. VERDICT The spirituality Mitchell displays is at once vibrant and intriguing but all too brief. Anyone interested in holistic faith traditions will find her work rewarding.—James Wetherbee, Wingate Univ. Libs., NC

Library Journal

Read More