Abstract

In his chapter, Gerard Kuperus explores kinship and vulnerability partially formulated within the context of the Turtle Island myth. In the myth and the cultures based on it, we are always seen in relationships to the non-human world, not as masters, but rather as dependent agents. Kinship with the natural world is central. In the modern Western mindset, on the other hand, we have attempted to make ourselves into beings that are not vulnerable. We see the non-human world as consisting of passive entities ready to be manipulated while giving ourselves a strong sense of agency in the form of mastery. In this modern mindset we seem to have a fear of losing this invulnerability. Thus, we remain strong, we think, by not recognizing kinship with the natural world. If a forest is seen as our kin, we would mourn the loss of that forest. We might avoid such mourning by making sure no one would hurt our own relatives. The chapter suggests that the ultimate challenge of the Anthropocene (or rather to get out of it) is to make ourselves more vulnerable. Kinship is not only making oneself vulnerable, it also makes one invulnerable. A personified world of natural entities transforms our sense of vulnerability and will lead us to step beyond the dichotomy of vulnerability and invulnerability.