Can a River Be A Person? | Indigenous Traditions: Crash Course Religions #7

Summary

This Crash Course Religions episode explores the Māori perspective on the Whanganui River, illustrating the deep spiritual and cultural connection between Indigenous peoples and their land. The Māori view the river as a living being, an ancestor with rights, a belief that was recognized legally in New Zealand in 2017. The episode delves into the complexities of defining Indigenous traditions within the Western concept of 'religion' and challenges conventional ideas, highlighting the fluid, dynamic nature of belief systems and their significance beyond the Western label of 'religion'.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Whanganui River is considered a living being by the Māori people, embodying both spiritual and physical significance as Te Awa Tupua.
• 😀 Māori beliefs challenge the Western concept of religion, which is heavily influenced by Christianity, and are instead rooted in ideas of kinship, reciprocity, and connection to nature.
• 😀 The Māori have fought for over a century to have their belief in the personhood of the Whanganui River recognized, eventually securing its legal personhood in 2017.
• 😀 Indigenous belief systems, such as those of the Māori, often do not have a direct equivalent to the Western term 'religion.' The closest concept is 'whakapono,' meaning faith or trust.
• 😀 The Māori see themselves as 'people of the land,' with a deep, ancestral connection to the earth, which is reflected in their concept of kinship with the natural world.
• 😀 Many Indigenous cultures view the divine as manifested in multiple forms, including nature, animals, and ancestors, rather than as a singular, distant god.
• 😀 In Mesoamerican traditions, the nagual represents a spiritual guardian linked to a person, usually taking the form of an animal, and influencing their life experiences.
• 😀 African spiritual traditions, such as Haitian Vodou, recognize a multitude of spirits (lwa) that are accessible to humans and can possess individuals during ceremonies.
• 😀 The concept of kinship in Indigenous traditions extends beyond humans to the land, animals, and even ancestral spirits, highlighting a reciprocal relationship between all beings.
• 😀 The struggle for the recognition of Indigenous spiritual practices, such as the use of peyote in Native American religious ceremonies, has been a significant legal and cultural battle.
• 😀 The recognition of the Whanganui River as a legal person in 2017 serves as a precedent for recognizing the rights of natural entities, challenging conventional ideas of personhood and legal status.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Whanganui River to the Māori people?

The Whanganui River is considered a living being and an ancestor by the Māori people. It holds spiritual significance and is inseparable from their identity. The Māori view the river as a person with its own rights and interests.

How did European colonization affect the Whanganui River?

European colonizers depleted the river’s fish, polluted it with farm waste and sewage, and legally divided the river, showing a lack of respect for its significance to the Māori people. This exploitation led to a long-standing legal battle between the Māori and the New Zealand government.

What does the Māori term 'Te Awa Tupua' refer to?

Te Awa Tupua is a Māori term describing the Whanganui river system’s physical and spiritual essence. It emphasizes the view of the river as a living being, integral to Māori identity and culture.

Why do some Indigenous cultures reject the term 'religion'?

Many Indigenous cultures reject the term 'religion' because it was introduced by European colonizers and does not accurately reflect their spiritual practices, which do not fit into Western constructs of religion. Instead, they often prefer terms like 'faith' or 'trust' that better represent their worldview.

What is the connection between Māori culture and the land?

In Māori culture, the relationship to the land is deeply spiritual. The term 'tangata whenua' means 'people of the land,' and this bond is seen as a kinship, much like that between mother and child, highlighting a deep connection to their ancestral lands.

What is the significance of personhood granted to the Whanganui River in 2017?

In 2017, New Zealand granted the Whanganui River legal personhood, recognizing it as Te Awa Tupua, a living being with its own rights. This marked the recognition of Māori views of the river as a person, with appointed guardians who can speak on its behalf.

How do many Indigenous religious traditions view the relationship between humans and the spiritual world?

Many Indigenous traditions see humans as one part of a broader spiritual network, where other beings, such as animals, nature, and ancestors, also possess spiritual significance. These traditions often emphasize kinship and reciprocity with the natural world.

What challenges did Indigenous peoples face in having their spiritual practices recognized?

Indigenous peoples often had to fight to have their spiritual practices recognized as legitimate by Western governments and institutions. This included legal struggles, such as the Native American Church's fight for the right to use peyote, which was eventually granted legal protection in 1994.

What is the role of ancestor spirits in many Indigenous traditions?

Ancestor spirits are revered in many Indigenous traditions. They are seen as active forces that guide and protect the living. In some cultures, ancestors can communicate with the living, often through dreams or rituals, and are honored through offerings and ceremonies.

What is the broader implication of the Māori legal victory regarding the Whanganui River?

The Māori legal victory regarding the Whanganui River challenges traditional Western legal systems by recognizing natural entities as legal persons. It highlights the importance of respecting Indigenous worldviews and opens the door for similar recognition of other natural entities or beings in different cultures.