Links for June 2, 2024

Yesterday was the final day of Nova Scotia’s Access Awareness Week. Many events were held, but it is important to recognize that this is ongoing for the two in five Canadians who suffer some form of disability – visible or invisible. There are buttons and stickers for you at the entries to the church, and a list of accessibility related books, available at our library, is posted on the bulletin board. On 27 May our own Anne Camozzi was awarded the “Mel Hebb Encore Award” recognizing a person with a disability who has significantly contributed to the community! Today is the United Church’s Pride Sunday – a significant day for our church. The entire month is Pride Month, so there will be more information to follow on this important topic. The 5th is World Environment Day, encouraging global awareness and action to protect the environment. This year’s theme is “Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration.” And the 8th is World Oceans Day. The 2024 theme is “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing”. Your Social Justice Collective encourages you to research all of these dates and do what you can to support their initiatives.

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time for us to learn about the unique cultures, experiences, and traditions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis

Did you know that Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was influenced by the Blackfoot (Siksika) world view? Maslow and two colleagues lived with the Siksika in southern Alberta for six weeks in the summer of 1938. According to Blackfoot scholars, Maslow “intended to test the universality of his theory that social hierarchies are maintained by dominance of some people over others.” However, he did not see the quest for dominance in Blackfoot society. Instead, he discovered astounding levels of cooperation, minimal inequality, restorative justice, full bellies, and high levels of life satisfaction.

However, Maslow did not completely integrate the Siksika word view into his theory; he omitted or misinterpreted a fair bit. For example, Maslow saw self-actualization as something to earn, while the Siksika see it as innate. No one knows why Maslow did not acknowledge the Siksika’s influence on his work, although he clearly held them in high regard. Some wonder if he feared being dismissed in academic circles by showing value to the Siksika way of life.

If you would like to learn more the Siksia influence on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you can look at Dr. Cindy Blackstock or Ryan HeavyHead’s work. “The Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow’s Hierarchy.”