On Concepts and 'the Best Places': Comparative First Nations, Chinese and Western Traditions on Comprehending Reality

Abstract

This article attempts to place Cree conceptions of reality on the same footing as both Western and Chinese traditions; drawing upon both oral and written sources, especially that of ceremonialist Wayne Roan, the Cree case is made for a concept of ‘the best place’ for understanding something, implying that rational thought itself has to be ‘placed’ in order to come to any conclusions. This introduces a different dimension into discussions in relation to the other two traditions, both of which appear to construct reality without relation to either physical or metaphysical ‘place’. However, other aspects of Cree conceptions do not differ that greatly from the Chinese understanding of reality.