02/18/2025
Before the forces of colonization took hold, there were communities living in harmony with one another and the earth. The Zulus, with their fierce sense of unity, created a world where strength wasn’t about dominance but about building each other up. The Iroquois Confederacy showed us that leadership and decision-making can be rooted in equality, where the voices of women were not only heard but respected as vital to the health of the whole community. Bhutan, a small country with a big heart, understood that true wealth isn’t measured in material possessions but in the well-being of its people, where happiness and sustainability went hand in hand.
In the highlands of the Andes, the Aymara people lived with a deep respect for the land, knowing that it’s not about taking but giving back—through practices of reciprocity and community care. The Maori, grounded in their rich traditions, understood that the earth is sacred, that power isn’t just held by a few but shared among all, and that respect for one another was the cornerstone of a peaceful society. The San people lived with a profound connection to nature, knowing the land and its creatures like family, understanding that their survival depended on the well-being of the whole.
What’s important to note is that these societies were more than just structured systems of governance based on patriotism or nationalism, as often seen in Western models. They were community-centered systems built on deep connections between people, nature, and spiritual values. They operated on principles of reciprocity, interdependence, and shared responsibility, where leadership was not about power over others but power shared through mutual respect and care for the collective well-being. These were systems that saw the individual as part of a greater whole, rather than isolated from it.
Then came colonization—the disruptive force that sought to divide, exploit, and strip away the foundations of these societies. Foreign powers imposed systems of control, replacing respect for the land and each other with greed and extraction. They brought with them the idea that certain people were “superior” while others were “savages.” This myth allowed them to justify violence, slavery, and the forced assimilation of cultures, decimating the rich traditions, communities, and spiritual connections that had sustained these societies for generations.
Had colonization never intervened, these societies might have continued to thrive, living with a deep understanding that we are all connected. Their way of life was built on cooperation, mutual respect, and an inherent knowledge that what we give to the world, we also receive. They understood that true strength comes not from control or exploitation, but from nurturing each other and living in balance.
In another world, these communities could have shaped a different kind of global society—one where our differences didn’t divide us but strengthened the fabric of our shared humanity. A world where the earth was cared for, where people were treated with dignity, and where leadership was about listening, loving, and growing together. That world might still be possible if we remember the lessons they left behind and build from a place of compassion, respect, and understanding.
