Radek Trnka and

Radmila Lorencova
2

Editorial Introduction
Indigenous Philosophies
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of Consciousness
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Indigenous understandings of consciousness represent an important

inspiration for scientific discussions about the nature of conscious-
ness. Despite the fact that Indigenous concepts are not outputs of
research driven by rigorous, scientific methods, they are of high
significance, because they have been formed by hundreds of years of
specific routes of cultural evolution. The evolution of Indigenous
cultures proceeded in their native habitat. The meanings that emerged
in this process represent adaptive solutions that were optimal in the
given environmental and social milieu. We argue that it would not be
appropriate to handle these meanings as something that science con-
siders to be wrong, or as outdated relics of the human past. In contrast,
Indigenous concepts and their meanings may be considered to be an
important heritage of native human populations and, moreover, they
also represent interesting material for analyses and inspiration for
recent scientific debates.
Furthermore, it is also necessary to mention another reason why the
exploration of Indigenous concepts has been so topical recently. Thus
far, much psychological theoretical development has been published
in English as a result of research conducted in Western countries. The

Correspondence:
Email: trnkar@volny.cz

1 Prague College of Psychosocial Studies, Prague, Czech Republic.

2 College of Applied Psychology, Terezin, Czech Republic.

Journal of Consciousness Studies, 30, No. 5–6, 2023, pp. 99–102

DOI: 10.53765/20512201.30.5.099
 100 R. TRNKA & R. LORENCOVA

dominance of English and the superiority of research conducted by

researchers from Western countries may be considered a kind of
barrier towards other ways of knowing. We argue that the traditional
cultural knowledge that comes from Indigenous societies may offer an
interesting source of new thought for science. The weakening of the
strong dependence of science on well-established academic circles
dominated by Western theoretical perspectives may be beneficial for
stimulating its further development (Sidik, 2022). Therefore, this
special symposium of the Journal of Consciousness Studies aims to
open the door to other ways of knowing, for the knowing that emerged
in native Indigenous cultures. We argue that the rich cultural heritage
of these societies may stimulate the emergence of new analytical per-
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spectives for scientific theorizing about the nature of consciousness.

For all these reasons, the study of Indigenous concepts of conscious-
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ness captured our interest, and we decided to start investigating them.

In 2020 and 2021, we retrieved and analysed pieces of information
from past ethnographical field evidence which were gathered from
various Indigenous cultures. After removal of data about cultures that
showed a high acceptance of influences from external religious
traditions (e.g. Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism), a comparative
analysis of data from 55 Indigenous groups was conducted and pub-
lished in this journal (Trnka and Lorencova, 2022). This primary
project revealed many interesting results, but more importantly it also
showed many unexplored avenues that called for further examination.
This special symposium of the Journal of Consciousness Studies is a
continuation and new development of research on Indigenous under-
standings of consciousness.
Past ethnographical evidence involved some valuable pieces of
knowledge about Indigenous concepts of consciousness, but the
relevant information was often fragmentary or even totally missing in
some cases. Moreover, many authors of past ethnographic records
applied a strong etic approach that clouded the understanding of native
Indigenous thoughts. Therefore, the main goal of the current sympo-
sium was to broaden the overall information base for the analysis of
Indigenous concepts of consciousness or closely related phenomena.
In other words, the symposium aimed to bring more detailed knowl-
edge of Indigenous concepts of consciousness, mind and body, and
their relations in various groups of Indigenous people.
In 2022, we contacted potential contributors and were pleased by
their positive reactions, which reflected the topicality of this research
focus. The authors were asked to draft their papers with a special
 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION 101

focus on (a) cultural Indigenous understandings of the concept of

consciousness, (b) a cultural Indigenous understanding of the mind–
body differentiation (or consciousness–body differentiation), and
(c) cultural metaphors and cultural beliefs related to consciousness,
mind, and body. Many of contributors were native members of
Indigenous cultures, which made the descriptions of Indigenous con-
cepts more accurate and reliable. This enabled many truly emic, in-
depth insights into Indigenous concepts of consciousness and related
phenomena to be gained.
As a result, this symposium introduces eight papers, each focused
on a different geographical region/Indigenous group: Nahua and Maya
(Mexico), Guna (Panama), Mapuche (Chile), Māori (New Zealand),
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Telengit (Altai), Mongolian groups, Igbo (Nigeria), and Asabano

(New Guinea). These papers are followed by a general paper discuss-
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ing magical consciousness in the case of an Aboriginal wise man

(Australia). The symposium closes with our concluding editorial
essay, which generalizes the findings and introduces three theoretical
models of understandings of consciousness inspired by the analysis of
Indigenous concepts.
Aside from the importance for basic research, the exploration of
Indigenous concepts of consciousness is also very important for
informing practitioners from many applied spheres. Many current
methods for treating addictions, traumatic life events, professional
burnout, and other mental health problems use features of Indigenous
healing practices. A proper understanding of meanings related to
mind, body, and consciousness is important for Western psychothera-
pists to adapt the Indigenous practices to particular Western cultural
milieus. Furthermore, a proper understanding of meanings related to
mind, body, and consciousness is also important for treating ethnic,
linguistic, and culturally diverse populations (APA, 1990). For thera-
pists, psychologists, and physicians, understanding the meanings of
these concepts may promote better care of their clients from various
Indigenous ethnic groups.
Last but not least, Indigenous concepts, meanings, and languages
are closely related to the continuation of the heritage of Indigenous
people (United Nations, 2016). The world’s Indigenous languages
have recently been under threat of disappearing — many Indigenous
languages are endangered globally, and the rate of loss is high (ibid.).
Importantly, recent research has also shown that the retention of
Indigenous languages may be protective for the psychological and
physical health of their speakers.
 102 R. TRNKA & R. LORENCOVA

All these areas represent fields for potential use of the findings
presented in this symposium. As a concluding note, the editors of this
symposium hope that this collection of papers will inspire academic
scholars while also providing important information for practitioners
from various spheres.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to the Prague College of Psychosocial Studies and the
College of Applied Psychology for support of this project — both
institutions participated equally in the preparation and implementation
of the project.
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References
APA (1990) Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services to Ethnic,
Copyright (c) Imprint Academic

Linguistic, and Culturally Diverse Populations, [Online], https://www.apa.org/

pi/oema/resources/policy/provider-guidelines [20 January 2023].
Sidik, S.M. (2022) For better science, increase Indigenous participation in pub-
lishing, Nature, online first. doi: 10.1038/d41586-022-00058-x
Trnka, R. & Lorencova, R. (2022) Indigenous concepts of consciousness, soul, and
spirit: A cross-cultural perspective, Journal of Consciousness Studies, 29 (1–2),
pp. 113–140.
United Nations (2016) Concept Note, [Online], https://www.un.org/development/
desa/indigenouspeoples/meetings-and-workshops/8109-2.html [20 January
2023].