The original cultures did not have an economy based on acquisition, rather their lifeways were based on giving and receiving. Much in the way that the fruit tree receives nourishment from the earth, and then gives her fruit to the animals, who then return the gift back to the earth. For this to work, all participants must give to receive. When a participant takes a lot, they have that much more to give; in order to receive great gifts, one must give great gifts to make room for receiving. The Native peoples understood this; it is represented in the Giveaway Ceremony. But we can do this in all of our endeavors. When we give to others it makes us all richer. When we give generously to our ceremonial leaders, we clear the way to receive the gifts of their ceremonies.
