Society-Environment Dualism and Indigenous Environmental Imaginaries

These flashcards summarize key concepts and vocabulary related to the relationship between society and the environment, Indigenous knowledge systems, and critiques of capitalist frameworks.

Society-environment dualism

The concept that society and environment are separate and distinct entities; often criticized for not accommodating Indigenous perspectives.

Indigenous environmental imaginaries

Alternative frameworks for understanding the environment, emphasizing interconnectedness and collective relationships with nature.

Haudenosaunee Confederacy

An indigenous political organization in North America governed by the Great Law of Peace, influencing contemporary Indigenous governance.

Mother Earth Concept

A viewpoint that considers the Earth as a nurturing entity, fostering life and emphasizing reciprocal relationships.

Great Law of Peace (Gayanashagowa)

The foundational document and constitutional basis of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, advocating for peace and unity.

Primitive accumulation

The process of dispossessing peasant communities of their lands, contributing to the rise of capitalism.

Environmental Imaginary

A framework that shapes perceptions of the relationship between society and the environment, notably critiqued for its Western bias.

Enclosure movement

The historical process of consolidating common land into private property, impacting social relations and ecological systems.

Concept of terra nullius

A legal concept used to justify the claim of 'empty land' by colonizers, ignoring the presence and rights of Indigenous peoples.

John Locke's theory on property

The idea that property is created by mixing labor with nature; criticized as exclusionary and justifying dispossession of Indigenous lands.

Feudalism

The dominant social, economic, and political system in medieval Europe, based on land ownership and service.

Contemporary organic natures

Modern interpretations of nature that challenge capitalist extraction and advocate for sustainable, ethical relationships with the environment.

Mohawk Mothers

An Indigenous group advocating for recognition of sacred sites and challenging colonial practices regarding land development.

Gender, Nature, and Capitalism

The evolving dynamics of gender roles and environmental perceptions during the transition from feudalism to capitalism.

Witch hunts

Historical persecutions of women, often linked to capitalism and emerging social structures, reflecting societal fears of female independence and knowledge.

Environmental Justice

Movement and study advocating for fair treatment and involvement of all people in environmental laws and policies.

Decolonial approaches

Strategies and perspectives aimed at addressing historical injustices and contemporary inequalities faced by Indigenous populations.