Challenge to Civilization: Indigenous Wisdom and the Future is the final book in a trilogy written by Dr. Blair Stonechild and follows up The Knowledge Seeker: Embracing Indigenous Spirituality and Loss of Indigenous Eden and the Fall of Spirituality.
Challenge to Civilization: Indigenous Wisdom and the Future is Dr. Stonechild’s sixth book and focuses on applying Indigenous spirituality, traditions, and land-based knowledge to society in the future.
”In that book I basically argue that civilization is not a spiritual, not even a normal way for humanity to be living, it’s essentially based on the pursuit of power and wealth and the development of civilization has been largely at the expense of indigenous peoples and their lands and their cultures,” explained Dr. Stonechild.
After writing Loss of Indigenous Eden and the Fall of Spirituality, which focuses on the past, Dr. Stonechild said he received many requests from people asking him to write a book looking at the future and that’s why he wrote the last book of the trilogy.
Over the last few years Dr. Stonechild has spoke with many Elders and Knowledge Keepers to gain information on traditional Indigenous ways of living.
“These books would not have been possible without the help of Elders. As a matter of fact, I don’t claim to have know all this information myself it all basically was shared with me by Elders and the Elders definitely encouraged me to write about them,” said Dr. Stonechild.
There was a launch event that took place January 24 for Challenge to Civilization: Indigenous Wisdom and the Future held at the First Nations University of Canada’s Regina campus, where people could purchase signed copies of the book.
“I probably could just use a bit of a break, I know whenever I write a book it usually comes from something I’m inspired enough to write about and at this point I can’t necessarily say that inspiration has hit,” said Stonechild.
As of now Dr. Stonechild doesn’t has any plans for future books, but all his books can be purchased online or at most bookstores.