Table Of Content525
In times of extreme cascading global crises facing humanity, all responsible humans need to re-evaluate
the dominant worldview that has brought us to this point of facing extinction. As a species we need to
Fearless Engagement of
relearn the ‘good’ ways from our greatest allies in Nature and from Indigenous cultures that lived in
relative harmony with Nature. Equally, we need to learn the best ways to think critically and act on the F
holistic understanding that may guide us beyond our individual and collective trance and illusions cast e FFoouurr AArrrroowwss
a
forth like chains upon modern societies through elites who manipulate fear.
r
Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows offers a unique strong “medicine” for the reconstruction of
l
a healthy, sane, and sustainable future for all. Utilizing the form of an intellectual biography of Four e
Arrows (aka Dr. Don Trent Jacobs) and his daring activist life and true teaching stories, the author cre- s
s
ates a powerful adventure into the firey philosophy, activism, and emancipatory inspirations of one of
E
the world’s great visionary prophetic educators and social transformers. Through a number of unique
n
experiences, including firefighting, white-water kayaking, wild horse training, world-class athletic com-
g
petitions, and counter-cultural activism, Four Arrows has become a connoisseur of fear and courage.
a
This book shows how he walks a universal ethical path of Fearlessness at a time when too many remain
g
trapped by their fears.
e
Among other readers, high school teachers and post-secondary teachers across diverse disciplines m
will find great ideas, eliciting dialogues and study questions for students, who now face a globalizing e
world where they can take charge of the future via fearless engagement. n
t
o
“Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows tells the story of one of the leading Indigenous educators in
f
North America. I have known Four Arrows for many years and am delighted that his journey and con-
F
tributions are presented in this timely book. In these difficult times his journey can inspire us to live o
fearlessly.” —John P. (Jack) Miller, Ph.D., professor and the coordinator of the Curriculum Studies and
u
Teacher Development Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, r
and author of Educating for Wisdom and Compassion
A
r
“As a Cree Sun Dance Leader who well knows my brother Four Arrows, I highly endorse Dr. Fisher’s
r
insightful description of his courageous activism and how it represents a key virtue represented by In- o
digenous Peoples the world over.” —White Standing Buffalo
w
s
R. Michael Fisher has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction and a masters of adult education from The
University of British Columbia. He is the founder of the In Search of Fearlessness Project and Research
F
Institute. Fisher is the author of hundreds of published articles, as well as book chapters and mono- i
s
graphs, focusing on the topics of education, fear, and fearlessness. His two prior books are leading-edge h
explorations: The World’s Fearlessness Teachings (2010) and Philosophy of Fearism (2016). e
r
The True Story of an
P
ET Indigenous-Based Social Transformer
E
R
L
A
www.peterlang.com N
G
Cover photo by Beatrice Jacobs
R. Michael Fisher
525
525
In times of extreme cascading global crises facing humanity, all responsible humans need to re-evaluate
the dominant worldview that has brought us to this point of facing extinction. As a species we need to
Fearless Engagement of
relearn the ‘good’ ways from our greatest allies in Nature and from Indigenous cultures that lived in
relative harmony with Nature. Equally, we need to learn the best ways to think critically and act on the F
holistic understanding that may guide us beyond our individual and collective trance and illusions cast e FFoouurr AArrrroowwss
a
forth like chains upon modern societies through elites who manipulate fear.
r
Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows offers a unique strong “medicine” for the reconstruction of
l
a healthy, sane, and sustainable future for all. Utilizing the form of an intellectual biography of Four e
Arrows (aka Dr. Don Trent Jacobs) and his daring activist life and true teaching stories, the author cre- s
s
ates a powerful adventure into the firey philosophy, activism, and emancipatory inspirations of one of
E
the world’s great visionary prophetic educators and social transformers. Through a number of unique
n
experiences, including firefighting, white-water kayaking, wild horse training, world-class athletic com-
g
petitions, and counter-cultural activism, Four Arrows has become a connoisseur of fear and courage.
a
This book shows how he walks a universal ethical path of Fearlessness at a time when too many remain
g
trapped by their fears.
e
Among other readers, high school teachers and post-secondary teachers across diverse disciplines m
will find great ideas, eliciting dialogues and study questions for students, who now face a globalizing e
world where they can take charge of the future via fearless engagement. n
t
o
“Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows tells the story of one of the leading Indigenous educators in
f
North America. I have known Four Arrows for many years and am delighted that his journey and con-
F
tributions are presented in this timely book. In these difficult times his journey can inspire us to live o
fearlessly.” —John P. (Jack) Miller, Ph.D., professor and the coordinator of the Curriculum Studies and
u
Teacher Development Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, r
and author of Educating for Wisdom and Compassion
A
r
“As a Cree Sun Dance Leader who well knows my brother Four Arrows, I highly endorse Dr. Fisher’s
r
insightful description of his courageous activism and how it represents a key virtue represented by In- o
digenous Peoples the world over.” —White Standing Buffalo
w
s
R. Michael Fisher has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction and a masters of adult education from The
University of British Columbia. He is the founder of the In Search of Fearlessness Project and Research
F
Institute. Fisher is the author of hundreds of published articles, as well as book chapters and mono- i
s
graphs, focusing on the topics of education, fear, and fearlessness. His two prior books are leading-edge h
explorations: The World’s Fearlessness Teachings (2010) and Philosophy of Fearism (2016). e
r
The True Story of an
P
ET Indigenous-Based Social Transformer
E
R
L
A
www.peterlang.com N
G
Cover photo by Beatrice Jacobs
R. Michael Fisher
525
Advance Praise for
Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows
‘‘This wide-ranging exploration of fearlessness examines the life and work of Four Arrows through
the lens of Fisher’s synthesized philosophy of fearism/fearlessness. It helps address the most urgent
questions facing our generation today: How can we break the dominant trance of fear-based living
that is killing us and destroying the ecosystem? How are we to find and practice the ‘peaceful way’
while sitting in the fire of social, cultural, and political conflict? By embracing the earth-honoring
spiritual psychology of Indigenous cultures as revealed in Four Arrows’ CAT-FAWN mnemonic
for dehypnotizing society, cultivating fearlessness, and promoting healing and transformation.
This is heady stuff for a non-scholar like myself, yet the author’s sincerity, intensity, and
concern for all people and the planet shine through the accounts of Four Arrows’ one-of-a-kind life
and Fisher’s careful inquiry of that life and teachings. Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows reminds
us that at the core of our greatest modern conflicts are not conceptual differences in ethics and
philosophy but a much more difficult admission: how frightened we all are. The key to liberation
from this fear remains right where it was abandoned centuries ago: in the sacred, interconnected,
nature-based worldviews of our own ancestors, no matter where our DNA comes from.’’
—JEFF NIXA, J.D., M.Div., founder of Great Plains Shamanic Programs
and author of The Lost Art of Heart Navigation: A Modern Shaman’s Field Manual
‘‘R. Michael Fisher, in this significant and life-changing book, Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows,
has captured how Four Arrows (aka Don Trent Jacobs) is a dynamic ‘force of nature’ who utilizes
‘courage and fearlessness’ to consciously break the paralyzing trances of Western culture. In doing
so, Fisher describes how this man of action, who ‘walks his talk,’ has found a path of ‘primal
awareness’ that has led him to a deep immersion into Indigenous cultures—their stories,
consciousness, wisdom, and struggles. The author shows how Four Arrows understands the
complementary forces of Western and Indigenous cultures—and, if each of their best virtues are
practiced with bravery and heart, they can move us toward a deep integration and rebalancing of
ourselves and our civilization, at this time of peril.’’
—HOWARD TEICH, Ph.D., psychologist and author of
Solar Light, Lunar Light: Perspective in Human Consciousness
‘‘Fisher has selected as his focus the life of a remarkable man, Four Arrows, a beacon of hope in an
era of confusion and fear. Fisher carefully and expertly explains some of Four Arrows’ most
important contributions to understanding the path toward Fearlessness. He reminded me why Four
Arrows’ work has moved me so greatly and why everyone should know him. Fisher’s book is an
excellent introduction to the man and his insights, and an inspiration for those committed to
helping humanity return to its potential.’’
—DARCIA NARVAEZ, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Notre Dame,
and author of Embodied Morality: Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination
Fearless Engagement of
Four Arrows
Studies in Criticality
Shirley R. Steinberg
General Editor
Vol. 525
The Counterpoints series is part of the Peter Lang Education list.
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the highest quality standards for content and production.
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R. Michael Fisher
Fearless Engagement of
Four Arrows
The True Story of an
Indigenous-Based Social Transformer
PETER LANG
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Fisher, R. Michael, author.
Title: Fearless engagement of Four Arrows: the true story of an
indigenous-based social transformer / R. Michael Fisher.
Description: New York: Peter Lang, 2018.
Series: Counterpoints: studies in criticality; v. 525 | ISSN 1058-1634
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018008005 | ISBN 978-1-4331-3448-7 (hardback: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4331-3447-0 (paperback: alk. paper) | ISBN 978-1-4331-5536-9 (ebook pdf)
ISBN 978-1-4331-5537-6 (epub) | ISBN 978-1-4331-5538-3 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Jacobs, Donald Trent, 1946--- | Courage—Social aspects.
Globalization—Social aspects. | Indian activists—United States—Biography.
Indian educators—United States—Biography.
Classification: LCC E90.J34 F57 2018 | DDC 370.92 [B]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018008005
DOI 10.3726/b13373
Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the ‘‘Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie’’; detailed bibliographic data are available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.
© 2018 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com
All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.
I dedicate this book to “the Ancestors” and to both my own and Four Arrows’
grandchildren respectively, Rowan; and Sage, Kaien, Rai and Kori, and all future
generations for whom fearless engagement may become a survival tool of absolute
necessity.
