Many modern day natural medicine practitioners—especially those of European descent like myself—walk a delicate line between reverence and appropriation. I feel absolutely grateful for what I’ve learned and been able to heal with the help of these medicines, and humbly honored as I am able to serve others. At the same time, I must always remember to acknowledge the debt owed to the ancient traditions and people that have shepharded these medicines and practices to our times.
The phrase “We’re all Indigenous” often shows up in these spaces, but what does it mean? Sometimes it’s used to sidestep or dismiss hard questions about cultural appropriation. Indeed, we may all be indigenous at some distant, unknown point in the past. As a white person, have you ever considered how long ago your indigenous ancestors were colonized? What do you know about their story? This is not an easy question to answer because colonizers have been actively erasing indigenous history and knowledge for eons. There is however, another more open and curious way to hold this phrase. It is one that can invite us into a more authentic, relational path.
In this spirit, “We’re all Indigenous” can be seen as a call to remember. It acts as an invitation to reconnect with the Earth-honoring traditions of our own lineages. These traditions may be distant, forgotten, or fragmented, but they can be re-discovered and re-kindled with effort. Rather than adopting practices from cultures foreign to me, I see this as an invitation to turn inward and look backward, to uncover the ancestral threads I innately carry and the wisdom that still lives in my bones. I have recently learned through DNA testing that 20% of my ancestry comes from Scotland. As I begin researching and exploring my Celtic roots, I can authentically connect with these traditions, and not feel the guilt of blind appropriation. As I discover and learn how to practice these traditions, I can say “I am indigenous” in a way that has relational meaning for me. This re-discovered knowledge can become part of my authentic offering as a medicine practitioner.
For many white-bodied folks, our indigenous roots may be obscured by centuries of assimilation, colonialism, and disconnection, but they’re not gone. With curiosity, humility, and care, we can begin to explore:
This process might involve researching genealogy, exploring DNA results, or even sitting with the grief of what was lost. It’s not easy, but it’s an investigation that can bring depth, integrity, and alignment to our work with sacred medicines.
If you’re drawn to reconnecting with your own indigeneity—not in name only, but in relationship—consider this your invitation.
Let’s reclaim not just the tools, but the roots.
