Neo-Primitivism: The Loss, Recovery and Sustainable Development of Northern American Aboriginal Culture

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the loss, recovery and sustainable development of native American culture from the perspective of the world-systems theory, and further illustrates how neo-primitivism is combined with psychotherapy to heal aboriginal individuals through reconnecting them with their sustainable tribal tradition. I will also try to clarify how Gary Snyder’s Myths & Texts, The Practice of the Wild, and The Old Ways were inspired by the sustainable native American neo-primitivism, its oral tradition and shamanism to advocate a wild culture and the concept of a poet-shaman to heal the binary opposition of Western civilization and its subsequent ecological crisis. If we can comprehend and conserve northern American aboriginal culture as it is, the goals of DESD and SDG such as good health and well-being, environmental conservation and protection, intercultural understanding (cultural diversity), reducing inequality, and sustainable cities and communities concerning northern American aboriginal culture can be realized ideologically, culturally and realistically.