The Nature Way

The Nature Way CORBIN HARNEY Wisdom from a Western Shoshone Elder The Nature Way CORBIN HARNEY The Nature Way As told to and edited by Alex Purbrick foreword by Tom Goldtooth University of Nevada Press Reno & Las Vegas University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada 89557 usa Copyright © 2009 by University of Nevada Press All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Design by Kathleen Szawiola Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Harney, Corbin, 1920–2007. The nature way / Corbin Harney, as told to and edited by Alex Purbrick ; foreword by Tom Goldtooth. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. isbn 978-0-87417-788-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Harney, Corbin, 1920–2007. 2. Shoshoni Indians—Biography. 3. Shoshoni Indians—Social life and customs. 4. Shoshoni Indians— Religion. 5. Shoshoni Indians—Civil rights—History—20th century. 6. Healers—West (U.S.)—Biography. 7. Religious leaders—West (U.S.) —Biography. 8. Political activists—United States—Biography. 9. Antinuclear movement—History—20th century. 10. Nevada Test Site (Nev.)—History—20th century. I. Purbrick, Alex, 1973– II. Title. e99.s4h269 2009 978.004'974574—dc22 2009015668 The paper used in this book is a recycled stock made from 30 percent post-consumer waste materials, certified by fsc, and meets the requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi / niso z39.48-1992 (r2002). Binding materials were selected for strength and durability. first edition 18  17  16  15  14  13  12  11  10  09 5  4  3  2  1 frontispiece: Corin Harney. Photography by Thomas Gugler Contents w w i S a Foreword by Tom Goldtooth vii Preface by Alex Purbrick xi i w S s N PART I   My Own Story 1 My Early Years 3 2 Working for My People 19 s i PART II   Temme Nanewenee Sogobia (Our Ancestors’ Land) l s i f c t w o h i f N 3 Mistreatment of the Native People 31 4 Travels Across Newe Land 41 PART III   Newe Wisdom 5 Healing with Our Prayers 55 6 Surviving on Nature’s Medicine 65 7 The Nature Way 80 PART IV   Surviving in the Modern World 8 Protecting Nature Notes 101 111    v f e m i s A e p i b c Foreword by Tom Goldtooth Corbin Harney was a Western Shoshone elder and spiritual leader working to protect the sacredness of our Mother Earth. In 1995 Corbin Harney wrote his Wrst book, The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Mother Earth. This book introduced Corbin Harney to the world, as well as the struggle of the Western Shoshone to protect and heal their traditional lands from radioactive colonialism and the strength of the way of prayer. In this second book, Harney draws further lessons and teachings he has gained from his work and relationships with many people around the world and from the wisdom and knowledge of his people, the Newe (Western Shoshone). This book opens the door wider for the world to gain a better understanding of the laws of Nature, how to work with Nature, and how to live in a Nature Way. The Nature Way is a very timely book. More than ever before, life on this sacred Mother Earth is out of balance. Throughout the world, political, economic, environmental, social, and cultural pressures are rising. Unsustainable development is being fed, like a hungry beast, by neocolonialism, capitalism, privatization, and globalization. The source of these pressures can be traced to the historical processes by which all humans have become increasingly alienated from the sacred Mother Earth. This includes alienation from self, community, and Nature. The long history of colonialism in the Americas seems to be threatened by cultures that have strong spiritual relationships to Mother Eart