Paula's people survived the end of the world
as they knew it 10,000 years ago

They went on to become the Oneida nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the oldest living participatory democracy to this day.  Their Chief Shenandoah served as counsel to Benjamin Franklin during the founding of the United States.  Unfortunately, Franklin was not able to convince the founding fathers to include the rights of women, children, people of color and mother earth herself. When they made the fateful omissions, Chief Skenandoah dressed in his ceremonial robe, wept for three days and returned home, never seeing Franklin again.  He could foresee the seeds of a bitter war being planted.    

What may we learn from their lived experience?

Fortunately for us, Paula Underwood devoted her life to translating her people’s wisdoms into language that could be heard by all listening ears.  She created The LearningWay for enabling learning and decision making, ensuring that the best thinking would always prevail, especially when the People’s survival was on the line.  Paula translated these vital lessons and principles into applications for contemporary learners.  With her blessing, we’ve shared these practices with organizations and communities for decades.  Now you can learn how to use them to help the communities you love make wise choices for creating a future that works for all beings.  

 Who is our offering for?

For people who are called to serve needs in their local communities, but who are not sure where to begin . . . who want to better understand their gifts and talents and their unique situation

Indigenous medicine wheels are designed to bring clarity in the midst of changing circumstances.

Their power lies in weaving learning into wisdom - harmonizing body, mind and spirit into one braid.  Here's a poem by Paula Underwood that illuminates the process.  

When you become clear on your unique contribution, you'll be able to move forward with confidence, skill and grace.

We encourage you to bring two neighbors or friends to serve as your closest learning partners.   

You will have the opportunity to:

Learn the essentials for living into our rights and responsibilities as human beings

Receive coaching as you apply indigenous wisdoms to your unique circumstances

Feel the support of kindred spirits dedicated to learning our way into the future together  – as a learning community

Experience the joy of harmonizing across generations and cultures

Become an honorable ancestor by becoming a trustworthy ally to all beings – including mother earth

The window of opportunity to heal people and the planet is closing.  

Let it be said we chose to do our part . . . .

Honoring Elders

We stand on the shoulders of indigenous elders. To them, we express a deep bow of gratitude for their sharing to the world's listening ears.

In the dedication to her book, The Great Hoop of Life, Volume 1, Paula Underwood, Oneida wisdom keeper, shares

"To all those, old and young, who sat in patient circles over countless generations adding mind to mind to create this learning tool..

To all those, young and old, who sit in patient circles now, adding heart to mind in growing awareness of possibility..

To all these, this present dance of words on pages is most gratefully dedicated."

We at 7th Generation Labs join in Paula's appreciation to those who have gathered around a central fire to gather the wisdom of the people.

Paula Underwood's grandfather's grandmother began the task of Keeping an Ancient Way of Learning safely preserved until a future generation could give it as a gift to all Earth's children with Listening Ears.

This Learning Way from the Oneida begins with the assumption that it is the responsibility of each of us to learn to understand who we individually are, the unique way in which we learn, what we need from our community and what we can give in return.  

It is the responsibility of the community to enable and encourage these understandings in the most effective ways it is able to devise.  

You may learn more about Paula's story here - the site is hosted by Paula's dedicated students.

You may order her books directly from her daughter  here.

Grandmother Tu Moonwalker, of Apache and South American native American heritage, focused on bringing sacredness into our daily lives.  

She died in her home surrounded by family and friends in 2011. She died as she lived, celebrating life.

Grandmother LánéSáan Moonwalker’s lineages are Apache, Yoeme, and Ashkenazi. 

She is an oracle, healer, environmental guardian and spiritual teacher  She began her training in the healing arts at age 12 and learned to work with creative expression as a doorway to spirit.  

She is a practitioner of the Moonwalker medicine way be being.

 As a wisdom keeper, her words are, “As Earth Mother’s children, our work is to tend to nature in a sacred way.  If we don't,  we are lost.”

Here is an interview with Grandmother LánéSáan Moonwalker focused on earth guardianship.

Joshua Konkankoh is a peace broker and facilitator in Global South-North Partnerships between impact organizations and international development agencies that work to amplify systems change.

He is an Indigenous elder, network weaver, and social entrepreneur who combines emergent digital network weaving in conscious food systems with regenerative permaculture principles, mindful environmental leadership actions, and climate resilience to reduce social inequalities and advance economic resilience.

He designs and facilitates collaborations between African systems change leaders and regenerative businesses based in the Global North to advance nature-based solutions and local development community of practice models for water, food and agroecological transformations.

You may learn more about his work here.