In class today we discussed how there were three basic possibilites of humans relating to nature. The first one is the hunter gatherer relationship. This type of relationship reminded me of the native americans felt towards nature. Many tribes identified themselves with an animal and it was a big tradition for young men to go on a spiritual journey and discover their spirit animal. Not only that the Native americans named themselves after ascepts of animals. For example, Cheif sitting bull. The hunter gatherer relatinship also beleives that God is everywhere and in everything. With the Native Americans, one thing that has always struck me is that after they kill an animal, they pray over the animal and thank the animals spirit for giving them their life. They show it honor and respect and they used all the animal parts for something. In a way this makes them killing the animal ok in my mind because it wasnt needless or wasteful and they were respectful.
The second relationship is that of the farmer and the herder. While the farmer is not totally dependent on the land, he still is very much in debt to it. One bad year of drought, or famine could ruin him. This is the type of relatinship that I can identify the most with because I come from a rural area. Many farmers tend to be more down to earth and can identify with nature. I definatly agree with the author when he says that dependance and partnership overlap in this area. If you feed and take care of the animals they will give you milk, and eggs. If you work hard in the field, the land will reward you with grain or fruit.
The third relationship that the author brings about it that of the craftsman and trader. To me, this is the relationship that seems to be the least in touch with nature. While humans aren't entirely dependant on nature, there are still some aspects that we need to survive (like freshwater). However, some take this to be a given and truely lose sense of how nature provides for us.
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