Ever heard of Maslow and his “hierarchy of needs”? Did you know that it was informed by the Blackfoot?

“The Siksika Hierarchy of Needs” video offers a wonderful explanation if you might be curious. In this video you will learn about the work of Dr. Cindy Blackstock and her paper on The Breath of Life. Dr. Blackstock reminds us that “The Blackfoot belief” is not a triangle but rather a tipi, and skyward facing sacred structural orientation.

Self-actualization is at the base, a starting point, only the beginning, and community actualization and cultural perpetuity are what follow. This is a regenerative expression of needs from an indigenous worldview.

“The community perspective of needs, can help us mature our mindset to be able to collectively transform crisis to opportunity, injustice to equity and collapse to regeneration” - (Community Climate Coaches, 2023).

With ease,

Jas (like the music)

Community Climate Coaches, (2023). The Siksika Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved 11 MAR 2024 from https://youtu.be/Y9Sp9L1D3-4?feature=shared