In elementary school, I learned about the Seventh Generation Principle: it is a philosophy followed by the Haudenosaunee First Nations people where the environmental impacts of the decisions we make today should be considered up to seven generations in the future. For example, the extent of fishing in a season one year is limited by the need to maintain a viable population for the future. As far as I know, other First Nations peoples have similar values.
So, this makes me question why the procedural dimension of justice in decision making that directly affects their communities is so often ignored. Is what’s socially just, specifically in these communities, not also ecologically just the majority of the time? So, the future I envision is one where the procedural dimension of justice is really emphasized and all involved individuals are represented in decision-making processes. I hope distributional and recognitional dimensions of justice will directly be more equitable as a result.
Hi Anonymous Owl! I loved your example. I agree that all individuals should be represented equally in decision-making processes. Perhaps in including "all involved individuals", we (non-Indigenous persons) are neglecting to include those who are not yet present physically, those being the individuals that will be present in future generations. However, this reminds me of the values some of my own friends are demonstrating when they express that they don't want to have children because they don't want them to inherit the planet we will be leaving them