Meet Mashudu, who is reconnecting knowledgeable elders with young people to enliven their ancestral knowledge, culture and confidence.
A new story of decolonisation from the African Earth Jurisprudence Collective, told by Mashudu Takalani of EarthLore Foundation, supported by The Gaia Foundation
READ MASHUDU’S STORY:
https://express.adobe.com/page/U3ZnkMdFQHrt1/
Working for EarthLore Foundation, a long-standing partner of The Gaia Foundation, Mashudu is accompanying her community on a journey of decolonisation, following the principles of Earth Jurisprudence and using methodologies from the Colombian Amazon. Together they are restoring food sovereignty, regenerating ecosystems, and remembering traditional governance that enables humans to live in respectful relationship with our living world, guided by customary laws derived from Nature.
This holistic approach to reviving biocultural diversity is rooted in Indigenous wisdom held by elders. It reminds South Africa’s VhaVenda people that they lived in harmony with each other and their ecosystem for generations, and brings back confidence in their ancestral knowledge, practices and identity: holding them steady against the onslaught of colonialism, Christianity and the west’s industrial growth model.
Mashudu’s journey demonstrates the immense value of Indigenous cultures in navigating the multiple ecological and social crises of our times. It is a testament to the fact that, by drawing on the power of our ancestry, we can weave a resilient future.
“If we are strong, we can show everyone that our Indigenous culture is something to be cherished, not ashamed of.” Mashudu Takalani
MORE STORIES OF DECOLONISATION:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/9046498
EARTH JURISPRUDENCE EXPLAINED:
https://gaiafoundation.org/earth-jurisprudence-explained/
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Our thanks to Tim Hawkins, who created these animations for our collective endeavour
