The Beaver carries wisdom. Wisdom, not to be confused with knowledge, is gained by experience. The beaver is creative, a problem-solver, and a hard worker. Wise beavers do not give up on their plans; they adapt & adjust their plans to fit their needs.

Wisdom uses our knowledge to impact our environment and create a more sustainable world. Every person has earned wisdom through their lived experiences, and those experiences bring a valuable perspective to the community. The building of a community relies on gifts given to each member. Wisdom is accepting responsibility and accountability, listening to advice, and understanding instruction. To have wisdom is to be open to learning new things, allowing yourself to grow, and how to apply these new adaptations to your life.

Controlling the source of human survival is a devastating tactic of colonization. If someone controls your food, water, and housing access, you'll depend on them for survival. Historically, people targeted for colonization were self-sufficient and balanced with the natural world. After colonization, these people were forced to depend on their colonizers and reduced to poverty. Throughout history, the people being oppressed have largely outnumbered the oppressor. At any point, they could have refused to be governed and demanded a more just and equitable system, but they haven't.

Every day, those in power make decisions that override, restrict, and interfere with our freedoms based on the assumption that their actions are in our best interest. Making those assumptions means that they are disregarding our truth for ease or ego.

We must evaluate our role in this act of colonization. Do you make decisions that impact others based on assumptions? How often have we made personal assumptions about people or situations without asking for more information? To end your role in this form of colonization, make no assumptions, ask questions, seek the truth, and take time to make more impactful decisions.

Decolonization thrives on embracing individual wisdom and connecting diverse knowledge to abolish oppressive systems. To bridge the fragmentation gap, we must create a community of grass-roots organizations that learn from each other to work more holistically together. Wisdom in decolonization is celebrating who we are, connecting with the unique knowledge we each bring to the table, and making space for everyone.