Reading and Discussion Questions - Molloy, Frey & Schitsu'umsh, and Berkes

Frey & Schitsu'umsh, "Natural Resources or Gifts?"

1.  What are the five teachings of the First Peoples ?  Who are the First Peoples?  What else did they provide?

2.  Why is  the term "natural resources" problematic for the Schitsu'umsh?  Why is "gifts' a better term?

3.  How does Frey define "landscape" and why does he define it in the way he does?

4.  What concepts in this piece have been shared and defined as "green" in other pieces we have read so far this semester?

Berkes, "Traditional Ecological Knowledge"

1. How does Berkes define religion? How does this fit in with our dicussion of various definitions of religion from the beginning of the semester/

2. How does Berkes define TEK?

3. Both Berkes and Molloy discuss the difficulties in labels for the "traditional" worldviews/religions/philosophies of folks like the Cree, the Nez Perce, the Dogon, the Mbuti, etc. Should they be labeled indigenous, traditional, oral, local, or what? What is at stake in the choice of labels?

4. What is the role of the specific environment in which a group lives in shaping its culture? To what extent does material culture shape world view and to what extent does world view shape material culture?

5. How did the field that studies TEK emerge?

6. What are some of the problems in the relationships between TEK and Western science? What politics are involved?

7. What are the seven areas of significance of TEK that Berkes identifies?

Molloy - "Oral Religions" pp. 29-66

1.  What issues surround the decision about what to call the traditional religions that Molloy addresses in this chapter? (p. 31)  Why does he choose the label "oral religions"?

2.  What are some of the "past obstacles to the appreciation of oral religions"? (p. 32)

3.  What figures and interests have stimulated "the modern recovery of oral religions" (33) discussed on pp. 33-34?  Note the reference to the ecological movement and "sometimes romanticized view of native peoples and their relationship with nature." (p. 33.)

4.  What shared elements are often part of native religions according to Molloy?  In particular what does he say about "human relationships with the natural world" (35) on pages 35-37?  Sacred time and sacred space on 37-38?  "Respect for Origins, Gods, and Ancestors"( 38) on pages 38-39 and 42-43?

5. What particular religious practices does Molloy discuss and what functions does he say they serve?  (pp. 44-61)

6.  What does Molloy have to say about both the vitality and the fragility of oral religions? (64-66)?