Syracuse Sun

When the Haudenosaunee gather, they begin with a Thanksgiving Address that emphasizes balance and harmony with all living things. Scott Manning Stevens, director of the Center for Global Indigenous Cultures and Environmental Justice at Syracuse University, explains that this act of remembering encourages mindfulness and gratitude.

Stevens is part of a center funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to strengthen Indigenous studies at Syracuse University. The center aims to make Indigenous concepts more accessible to the public by drawing on the culture of the Haudenosaunee, whose ancestral land hosts the university.

The center features diverse faculty members such as Percy Abrams, Melissa Chipman, Mariaelena Huambachano, Aaron Luedtke, and Danika Medak-Saltzman. These experts provide students with insights into Native communities and their challenges. "There are key concepts across cultures," says Stevens, "but obviously there are different techniques among different people."

The center introduces students to Indigenous perspectives on interconnectedness and responsibility, encouraging them to apply these ideas in areas like climate change and land stewardship. Ethical land use is one focus area; Robin Kimmerer highlights principles such as taking only what is needed in her book “Braiding Sweetgrass.”

Stevens criticizes Western capitalist practices for environmental damage but suggests Indigenous values could offer solutions. He cites intercropping as an example where traditional knowledge benefits agriculture.

Food sovereignty is another topic explored at the center through courses taught by Huambachano. She describes it as encompassing cultural history and long-term health beyond mere caloric intake.

Huambachano also organized a symposium on rematriation—reclaiming women's roles eroded by patriarchy—with Michelle Schenandoah's organization Rematriation. This initiative aligns with CGIC’s mission to share matrilineal knowledge addressing global challenges.

Stevens stresses considering future generations when making decisions about land use—a principle known as Seventh Generation Thinking among the Haudenosaunee.

"Our relationship to land has much more to do with responsibility than rights," he states. Stevens hopes students will recognize that integrating Indigenous perspectives can improve modern practices.