Valuing the Indigenous Way of Knowing

My search for the meaning of education especially as it applies to my seven year old son with a "learning difference" and a poor aptitude for academics, has brought me to the doorsteps of the alternative and progressive and unschooling movements.  Through the Alternative Education Resource Education newsletter I discovered this appropriate essay on the limitations of Western knowledge; "The Other Way of Knowing" by Lilian Na'ia Alessa, a descendant of the Salish tribe of British Columbia.  Her writing appears on the site of an equally amazing and appropriate movie titled "Schooling the World: The White Man's Last Burden", a film that "poses an almost heretical challenge to the long-unquestioned assumption that the western model of education and schooling improves lives wherever it goes."
Please check out the trailer for this important film here:  SD Trailer | Schooling the World

Day at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum

Last weekend we spent the day at one of our favorite museums, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center.  Housed on the South Eastern Connecticut Mashantucket tribal land next to the famed Foxwoods Casino, the museum contains a stunning collection of "multi-sensory dioramas and exhibits of eastern woodland and Mashantucket Pequot life", with detailed videos on everything from cooking traditional dishes to making dug-out canoes.

10 Things I’ve Learned Traveling Around the World | Frederic Patenaude Raw Foods Diet

Photo by Frederic Patenaude

Interesting article by a raw food educator, Frederic Patenaude.

Some of his observations include that people eat a lot "junk" food pretty much everywhere and in many countries "health consciousness" is still a strange idea.
Check it out here.

Beautiful Stills from BBC Earth's "Human Planet"

Timothy Allen, Central Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Breathtaking slide show of photographer Timothy Allen's favorite still shots from his work on the BBC Earth's show Human Planet
View the slide show with Tim's fascinating commentary here.

A Magical West Africa and South Africa Musical Collaboration

Last night I went to a great performance with one of my favorite African artists, Habib Koite.  The concert was a beautiful intra-African collaboration and melding of West African and South African talents.  Featuring the guitar stylings of both Habib and Afel Boucom from Mali and Oliver Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe, the show was a rare treat.  Tuku, Wassoulou and Tuareg sounds and rhythms were played by a musical group that included both the N'Goni (Malian guitar predecessor) and M'Bira (thumb piano).  Take a listen to parts of two songs above.

Free "Healthy 4 Life" Traditional Nutrition E-Book

The Weston Price Foundation is offering a free e-book of "Healthy 4 Life" - a book containing a summary of their basic nutritional philosophy, as well as many traditional recipes.
Download it here
Via the great Nourishing Gourmet site.
More about Weston Price here

"Health Doesn't Come Through a Needle"

Please take a moment to read this brief compelling article by Dr. Sheri Tenpenny. It's a very well stated explanation of a health concept whose time is long overdue.
Read it here

" I love Music...And I Want to Make People Dance"

The above spoken by DJ Frank Gossner of the Voodoo Funk blog in the soon to be completed documentary, "Take Me Away Fast", "a film about a DJ who journeys throughout West Africa to discover rare, vinyl recordings of Afro-beat and Afro-funk music."   Frank is a true cultural preservationist; saving a part of these cultures (the film chronicles Ghana, Benin and Togo) that might otherwise be lost forever, as the vinyl is often destroyed or forgotten about.


Through  his blog found out that I could pledge money to help get the film completed by going to the Kickstarter sight of filmaker Leigh Iacobucci.  I couldn't give much but I hope it helps get this film finished.  Looks like it will be a great!
Help Leigh with the completion of the documentary with a pledge even as small as a $1 here.

Getting Away from the Culture of Consumerism in a Third-World Country

Great relevant post from the Get Rich Slowly blog about one family's positive experience moving to Papua New Guinea.
Read it here:

"Reader Story: How Moving to a Developing Nation Improved Our Financial Situation"

Healing Power of Rhythm and the Voice

Last weekend I had the pleasure of drumming for a yoga and chakra balancing workshop at my sister's yoga studio (Mystic Yoga Shala).  Instructor Jim Conlan led students through a series of chants in coordination with various rhythms and yoga postures.  My sister and I played along with a cd by famed percussionist Glen Velez comprised of 7 different rhythms that are believed to stimulate and balance the 7 chakra energy centers of the body.
I wasn't able to chant while playing the rhythms, but the concentration it took to play them was a meditation in itself and put me in a yogic state I haven't experienced in a long time while drumming.  I hope to do much more of this kind of drumming in 2011!

Start the New Year Off With Supreme Nutrients for Your Body

Had to do a new year's re-up of the Boku line of superfood, protein powders and more.
 My family and I have been making smoothies from both the superfood powder and brown rice protein powder for the past year and a half now and I can at least say that my husband and I both notice an increase in our energy and an overall general feeling of being healthier.  As far as my 6 year old goes, he probably doesn't notice anything different, but I feel confident that he's getting important nutrients that will offset the dominance of pizza and cake in his diet.  Oh yeah, and did I say that it tastes really good too?  (This comes from a major sweetaholic.)
Take a gander at the stellar line up of ingredients(pictured above) in their Super Food powder.........nuff said.  The best of the best for your body.
Not listed, raw brown rice protein powder boasts a full spectrum of amino acids and "26 grams of highly bio-available protein".
You can order Boku products here.

The Local Physical and Spiritual Healing Supplies Shop in Senegal

Pictured above, a woman in the market of  M'Bour, Senegal (small city 1 hour south of the capital) sells a cornucopia of medicines and herbal aids; from chew sticks of many varieties to the popular "Viagra"-like kola nut.  Perusing her table, you can also find many provisions of the local marabouts (religious healers), like goat horns, Guinea feathers, cowry shells, and various incenses, used for sacrifices and other spiritual purification.
Very different then going to your nearby CVS or Rite-Aid pharmacy.
The top photo, taken on our visit to Senegal earlier this year, shows my husband and bewildered-looking son. .