These are the 16 Four Worlds Guiding Principles. Fundamental, primary truths exemplified in the phenomena of the natural world. They are not doctrine, dogma, or require any beliefs. They can guide our behavior in pursuit of a more just, sustainable, and harmonious world. Guiding principles are for values clarification and offer a principle-centered approach to cooperating that has us look at what we are committed to achieve, and what is required for development processes to be effective.
Preamble We speak as one, guided by the sacred teachings and spiritual traditions of the Four Directions that uplift, guide, protect, warn, inspire and challenge the entire human family to live in ways that sustain and enhance human life and the life of all who dwell on Mother Earth, and hereby dedicate our lives and energies to healing and developing ourselves, the web of relationships that make our world, and the way we live with Mother Earth.
Starting from within, working in a circle, in a sacred manner, we develop and heal ourselves, our relationships, and our world.
Starting from Within
1. Human Beings Can Transform Their Worlds
The worldview of our relationships with others and the natural world, which has given rise to the problems we face as a human family, can be changed.
2. Development Comes from Within
The process of human and community development unfolds from within each person, relationship, family organization, community or nation.
3. No Vision, No Development
A vision of who we can become and what a sustainable world would be like, works as a powerful magnet, drawing us to our potential.
4. Healing is a Necessary Part of Development
Healing the past, closing up old wounds, and learning healthy habits ofthought and action to replace dysfunctional thinking and disruptive patterns of human relations is a necessary part of the process of sustainable development.
Working in a Circle
5. Interconnectedness
Everything is connected to everything else; therefore, any aspect of our healing and development is related to all the others (personal, social, cultural, political, economic, etc.). When we work on any one part the whole circle is affected.
6. No Unity, No Development
Unity means oneness. Without unity, the common oneness that makes (seemingly) separate human beings into “community” is impossible. Disunity is the primary disease of our community.
7. No Participation, No Development
Participation is the active engagement of the minds, hearts, and energy of people in the process of their own healing and development.
8. Justice
Every person (regardless of gender, race, and religion) must be accorded equal opportunity to participate in the process of healing and development, and to receive a fair share of the benefits.
In a Sacred Manner
9. Spirit
Human beings are both material and spiritual in nature. It is therefore inconceivable that the human community could become whole and sustainable without bringing our lives into balance with the requirements of our spiritual nature.
10. Morals and Ethics
Sustainable human and community development requires a moral foundation centered in the wisdom of the heart. When this foundation is lost, morals and ethical principles decline and development stops.
11. The Hurt of One Is the Hurt of All: The Honor of One is the Honorof
All The basic fact of our oneness as a human family means that development for some at the expense of well-being for others is not acceptable or sustainable.
12. Authentic Development
is Culturally-Based Healing and development must be rooted in the wisdom, knowledge and living processes of the culture of the people.
We Heal and Develop Ourselves, Our Relationships and Our World
13. Learning
Human beings are learning beings. We begin learning while we are still in our mother’s wombs, and unless something happens to close off our minds and paralyze our capacities, we keep learning throughout our entire lives. Learning is at the core of healing, development, and social change.
14. Sustainability
To sustain something means to enable it to continue for a long time. Authentic development is not dependent on finite resources; it does not use up or undermine what it needs to keep going.
15. Move to the Positive
The best approach to solving the critical problems in our lives and communities is to visualize moving into the positive alternative that we wish to create by focusing on the strengths we already have, rather than on fighting the things we want to change.
16. Be the Change You Want to See
The most powerful strategies for change always involve positive role modeling and the creation of living examples of the solutions we are proposing. By walking the path, we make the path visible.
The Sixteen Principles for building a sustainable and harmonious world community emerged from a 40-year process of reflection, consultation and action within Indigenous communities across the Americas. They are rooted in the concerns of hundreds of Indigenous Elders Spiritual Leaders and Community Members, as well as in the best thinking of many non- Indigenous scholars, researchers and human and community development practitioners. Read more here