Photo: Kultrun is a ceremonial drum of great significance in Mapuche (Peru) cosmology, primarily used by machis (spiritual healers) in rituals and healing ceremonies, by Cosmo Sanchez, Wikimedia
Can we hope to ever build a just and merciful society? Edgar Villanueva spells out how in his compelling and carefully researched book Decolonizing Wealth, and he leans heavily on indigenous wisdom to bring about his vision.
"Mitakaye Oyasin"—all suffering is mutual; all healing is mutual. We are all one. The solution, as the author explains, is to use philanthropy to actually reallocate resources and not just mirror the corporate top-down hierarchy perpetuating control, domination, and exploitation. It's a Robin Hood concept, but Villanueva makes sure we realize that we are not "stealing from the rich"; instead, the rich have built all of their wealth from stolen land and on the backs of enslaved workers. He wants to reverse how some of today's foundations actually do more harm than good by lionizing institutional false prophets who use philanthropy as a cudgel. Think Bill Gates, who's presented to us as a white knight with a savior complex saving the hoi polloi while masking his eugenics ideology and lying about his Epstein connections.
Villanueva advocates for a gentle bedside manner in order to bring the oppressor into the circle of healing. He wants to eliminate the wall between the haves and the have-nots. Poverty will be erased by the slow and steady seven steps to healing: grieving, apologizing, listening, relating, representing, investing, and repairing. It's not too late if we start now. There's a train that's coming.
