**6. Creating a New Paradigm of Indigenous Community Development**

Environmental scientists, policy makers, and community developers create and apply theories to the ever-evolving complex situations of a rapidly degrading global environment. Environmental educators create curricula to bring about both an awareness and deeper understanding of chronic ecological issues. New models are constantly being debated and alternatives applied to address specific environmental situations. Yet, most of this work continues to be done and viewed from the "old" paradigms of Western science and policy development. Success and impact of these models continue to be tied to traditional and mono-dimensional economic references such as numbers of people trained or graduated, goods and services delivered, loans or profits made, etc. While these are quantifiable indicators of impact or relative success, it must be remembered that they are but one kind of indicator. Deeper level indicators which reflect the broader dimensions of change or impact are rarely researched and when they are, they are rarely taken seriously. The so-called business "bottom line" psychology continues to predominate as what is most valued in measuring relative success of a development initiative, even as community and environmental issues continue and even worsen. This is the case in many Indigenous communities that attempt to apply Western concepts of development to their unique community development issues. In general, we know more about the issues than ever before yet continue with the old paradigm of thinking and actions, seemingly helpless as we continue to speed ahead to ecological disaster. A deeper and more conscious education about sustainability and the development of a new consciousness therein are key to making the necessary changes for our collective survival.

However, to measure long term "sustainability" of a model or initiative, the net must be cast much broader to be inclusive of the more holistic and less easily quantifiable context of a natural community inclusive of humans. Historically, the traditional Indigenous paradigm of "development" began with gauging the sustainability of an initiative or application of a body of knowledge in reference to how well it helped an Indigenous community "survive" through time and in a place. Indeed, Indigenous communities have the historical, philosophical, and even spiritual foundations from which they may build new and sustainable models for community renewal and revitalization. Many have the cultural and historical foundations to operationalize new sustainable paradigms if they build upon their own creative sense of what it takes to be sustainable and to survive [8].

The movement on the part of some Indigenous leaders and scholars to Indigenize foundational aspects of Indigenous development in ways that are more closely aligned with Indigenous world views is itself a very practical creative strategy to address very real issues of sustainability. In addition, this movement toward "indigenization" is tied to an evolving and increasingly holistic and comprehensive approach to building Indigenous nations. Recognizing the role of local Indigenous knowledge and creating infrastructures from the inside out based on inherent strengths with an eye toward "sustainability" are some of the key tenets of this movement toward indigenization. Indigenous people are learning, creating, and evolving in their development of models for sustainability. Much of these processes are occurring outside the confines of Western academe, institutions, government agencies, and NGOs. They are being engaged in by and through the communities themselves as emergent and organic creative actions directly addressed at the issues and needs of the communities in real time.

This community-based creative process might be summarized as follows: gaining firsthand knowledge of community needs through "problem-based action research", developing a comprehensive understanding of the history and "ecology" of a community economy, implementing strategies for regaining control of local economies, creating models based on lessons learned and the application of research of practices that work, and cultivating networks for mutual support and action. This reflects authentic empowerment of communities from grassroots activity within the communities themselves. This also implies the need for a community education process that is initiated by the community in partnership with external expertise to produce solutions.

This new movement and new thinking regarding Indigenous development is in direct contrast with the standard approaches of the past which mimic the Western mono-dimensional model of development. Indeed, the underlying assumptions, aims, and effect of the Western model must be questioned in terms of their ultimate sustainability. It is through the application of the lens of their own histories of sustainability that Indigenous people are coming to realize the wisdom and consequences of applying the Western model of development to their circumstances. It is also the application of the conceptual framework of sustainability that gives the greatest opportunity to the application and even evolution of Indigenous science as a living and evolving base of knowledge upon which Indigenous communities might rely.

In using "sustainability" from perspectives that originate from within Indigenous communities as a guiding paradigm for building Indigenous nations, the underlying assumptions and mono-dimensionality of the standard Western development model becomes apparent. Upon close examination, the limitations of the prevailing Western development paradigm in helping Indigenous communities realize their goals of empowerment, renewal, and revitalization are also apparent.
