Defining Tribalism

For the sake of clarity, I would like to offer a definition for Tribalism.

According to Wikipedia, Tribalism is the state of being organized by, or advocating for, tribes or tribal lifestyles. Human evolution has primarily occurred in small hunter-gatherer groups, as opposed to in larger and more recently settled agricultural societies or civilizations.

I also found some synonyms that I align with for the word tribal: kindred, common, group, family, clan, people, lineage, kin. (multiple sources)

Related to this search, I found a definition of “Native Community” is “Indigenous peoples,” a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. Sometimes the term “Aboriginal peoples” is also used. (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada).

Orignal Peoples. This is a positive way to look at tribal groups who live close to the land, grow, raise and hunt their own food, and teach their own children. It proscribes a certain status and position of honor similar to that of being a great great grandfather. A revered one who “came before.”

The living individuals of a tribe are clan members made up of family and those who are added to family. Their version of family is similar to ours. As well as blood family with the same ancestry, it includes those who choose a mate in our family group, are adopted into our family group, or are simply added by virtue of becoming aligned with or close to family, such as a neighbor who is referred to as “Aunty Sue.”

There were several children who gravitated to our home when I was raising my children. They are absolutely part of our clan. Even those we have lost touch with live in our hearts and would be welcome at our table and in our homes if we were to somehow reconnect with them. One is still very much in touch, and all three of my children call him their brother.

Other definitions I came across are quite negative. They culminate in this one offered by Cambridge Dictionary: Tribalism is a very very strong feeling of loyalty to a political or social group, so that you support them whatever they do.

Several definitions defined tribes as being against other groups.

Yet another definition mentioned groups who root for the same sports team, and those who are followers of a musical group, such as Grateful Dead.

I do not align with these definitions when I use the words tribalism, tribe or tribal.

I have concerns about the negative use of the word tribalism. In fact, recently I have been told by 2 people I respect, that they understand tribalism to be negative in exactly that way. Being against others.

It’s absolutely true that tribes sometimes have conflicts.

I am familiar with the fact that some Native American tribes had more of a warring nature than others and were more generally feared.

I also know that Europeans, when they first cam to this land, aligned themselves with some tribes in order to enlist them in their attempts to prevail against other tribes. Many tribes were dominated, displaced, and even eradicated in this way.

However, I feel that defining tribes as oppositional to others is similar to defining counties as having enemies rather than by their evolution, laws and values. We need only consider recent history to recognize that the practice of aligning with a temporary ally is still used today for the purposes of control, domination, and sustaining power over others globally.

I believe it is a mistake to define tribalism as opposing those who are not part of one’s tribe.

I understand being part of a tribe to mean sustaining ancient and ancestral practices, beliefs and alignment with honoring and living in harmony with nature and natural cycles – cycles of the moon and sun, growing seasons, and tides.

Respect for, knowledge of and alignment with one’s ancestors is a significant aspect of this way of life. A man I met in Uganda told me that he was raised in a tribe and that within the tribe there were 2 clans. His clan was the Lion clan. His name is a tribal name. (I wish I had asked what his name means.) He identifies and knows himself in this way. This kind of knowledge is something I have never had. I do not stand as a member of a tribe or clan. I feel I have always missed it, not knowing exactly what I missed, or why. This is the richness that is lost when tribes are forced away from the lands they have occupied for centuries.

This loss is still occurring in South America, Australia, Africa, Asia and even in the USA the loss is not complete. Is it too late to honor that which is tribal in origin? To honor those who still live in a tribal paradigm and have connection to the ancient sacred ways of their tribes and their ancestors? Are there perhaps things we can learn from people who are so vastly different from us?

I would like to think it’s not too late, that the current transformation and reworking that is under way on this planet will expand to embrace the ancient ways, the conservative ways, and some of the new unfolding ways. I am holding space for us to grow and expand exponentially in ways that allow us to honor every one of us. This way would sustain freedom as our forefathers defined it, and would allow others to sustain ways that might be unfamiliar and different. 250 years ago, they were not able to make room for others.

Times change, and I envision the best of changes.

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