Gift Economies
Gift economies, from the informal to highly ritualized protocols, are known from Indigenous communities around the world. … Well known examples of gift economies include the potlatches for Pacific Northwest people, in which gifts circulate in the group, solidifying bonds and redistributing wealth. Traditional potlatches are gift-giving celebrations, in which possessions are given away with lavish generosity to mark meaningful life events. … This ritualized redistribution of wealth was banned by colonial governments, under the influence of missionaries in the 1800’s. Potlatches were seen as contrary to “the civilized values of accumulation” and undermined the notions of private property and advancement essential to assimilation to the colonial agenda.
- Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry
Looking down at the carpet of puffy cumulus clouds from 30,000 feet in the air, the green of spring is everywhere across the immense landscape. Flying over the land I realize how lush, abundant and vast it feels. The great waters of Lake Michigan are peaceful and blue. There are miles and miles of farmland and acres being prepared for crops. From the air while I see fields and streets, I cannot see fences, walls or gates. All appears as one quilted connected piece of a fabric of landscape.
Pat and I are off on vacation to visit friends on the West Coast. A big adventure for us that will include plane trips, a train, a visit to the Cascade mountains and a ride on a ferry.
As we fly, I think of this effort of Circles of Courageous Commons. The ones who said “yes” to lead our writing reflection groups the Monday’s while we are away. People who have sent in entries for our daily writing in order that we could get a bit of a schedule. The small communities of kindness and friendships that are forming across borders and time zones. I ponder all of you who are participating in creating a lifeline of hope in this present culture. You are showing up to create and share in a gift economy with one another.
A few in this world might like us to believe that our neighbors are not trustworthy, that the resources in this world are scarce, that competition and getting the best deal is the way to land on top. These are all lies based on the “civilized values of accumulation.” These values have failed us to date, and are surely failing us now.
On the flight, I am reading The Serviceberry. My mind is racing as I hold the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer and the view from my window and how we have moved so far from the Indigenous cultures of “gift economies” to the “civilized values of accumulation.”
I think about our home and the fact that in our garden are three compost piles where we faithfully put our leftovers greens, peelings, coffee grounds and eggshells. With every emptying of the container, the soil is turned with leaves, grasses and hummus from the earth. Yes, it is a bit of an effort and it takes patience; however, the result is what is affectionately named as “black gold.” The richest of soils, a gift of mother earth, to be used for the growth of the next crops of beans, tomatoes and other summer crops from the garden. The “black gold” will assist in the creation of a bounty of harvest that will surely be offered to friends and neighbors, as they will share their abundance with us. The gift economy.
Flying I am reminded of Naomi Shehab Nye’s poem Gate A-4.
“And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and thought, This is the world I want to live in. The shared world. Not a single person in that gate— once the crying of confusion stopped— seemed apprehensive about any other person. They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women too. This can still happen anywhere. Not everything is lost.”
By Jean Richardson May 2025
Invitation: Where have you discovered black gold?
The Serviceberry - Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem Gate A-4
We will meet for the Community Table Monday, June 9th at 4:30 PM ET. Contact us for information HERE.
Learn More About Circles of Courageous Commons HERE
Thank you Jean for inviting us to consider these circles, retreats and The Community Table as gift economies. The sharing of our true selves within them, the wisdom of the circle, the invitational model of shared leadership, not hierarchy -- I am grateful for the Circles of Courageous Commons.
"The small communities of kindness and friendships that are forming across borders and time zones. I ponder all of you who are participating in creating a lifeline of hope in this present culture. You are showing up to create and share in a gift economy with one another." Jean Richardson
Serviceberry book,
kind Kimmerer, Arachne.
Lost, not everything.
...
In the hot compost
leftovers are cooked slowly.
Black gold the earth births.
...
Grace-filled giftcycling,
courageous commons circles.
Even here, Substack?!