Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Native Americans lived in a sustainable way. Their values, which encouraged social justice and community governance, led to actions that resulted in a sustainable world (Cronon, 2003). By looking at Cronon’s writings through the lens of political economy, ecology, ecological economics, and human psychology, valuable lessons can be learned. The Cycle of Native Life gives us a snapshot of what it takes to build a sustainable world. The impending arrival of European colonists, however, leads to unsustainable Cycles of Transition.

Definitions:

Usufruct Rights: All people in a society have equal access to the resources available on their land.

Disconnects: A detachment between those who make decisions and those who suffer the consequences of those decisions.

Sources

Cronon, William. Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England. Hill and Wang, 2003.