‘We Are One: a Celebration of Tribal Peoples’ is a truly unique collection of indigenous wisdom, stunning images and extracts, surrounding the ideology of mori kami yamaki’, which means, we are all one’. Celebrating the lives and values of tribal peoples, the book explores the relevance of their beliefs in the present day.

Divided into several themed chapters: Land, Survival, Belonging, Celebration, Shaman, Wisdom, Exile and Resistance, Joanna Eede’s eclectic collection boasts a huge and diverse range of contributors. The legends, proverbs and statements of the world’s tribal peoples — such as the Penan of Malaysia and Innu of Canada — are supported by powerful essays and photographs from international authors, politicians, environmentalists, shamans, poets, artists and philosophers. There are also previously unpublished contributions from many well-known figures, such as Zac Goldsmith, Colin Firth, Bruce Parry, Damien Hirst, Tony Juniper, Carlo Petrini and Arundhati Roy.

The book raises contemporary issues inherent to indigenous peoples’ fight for survival: the growing universal need to place human values over economic ones; the destruction of the rainforests; climate change and why tribal values of balance, humility and reciprocity are more important than ever in today’s world.

One of the issues raised is the persecution of the Jumma tribe of Bangladesh, who can no longer live in harmony with the land as they once did. They suffered severe violations of their human rights at the hands of the government.

The story of the Jumma is not unique, as Richard Gere reminds us, emphasising: “We must speak out against those who subject tribes to violent repression and abuse. We need to respect their cultures — languages, festivals, spirituality, their insights into the ways of the world and into the workings of the mind — as being just as valuable and precious as any other modern culture.”

‘We Are One’ successfully educates and inspires the reader, conveying wisdom, while inducing a feeling of oneness with all other humans, as well as nature itself ó a colourful and enlightening book.

All photographs, articles and extracts have been donated in recognition of Survival International’s 40th Anniversary. Royalties will go to help continue their campaign for the rights of tribal peoples worldwide.

We Are One: a Celebration of Tribal Peoples,
edited by Joanna Eede
Published by Quadrille Publishing
ISBN: 9781844007295 Price £30.00
Contact: Survival International,
6 Charterhouse Buildings, London,
EC1M 7ET. Tel: +44 (0)20 7687 8700
Website: www​.survival​-international​.org

Chhetri woman, Dhorpatan, Nepal
Photo: copyright Bruno Morandi / brunomorandi​.com