The Woodleys discussed the ten values, shared by many Indigenous peoples, they feel would help people create a balanced, sustainable life, away from the settler mindset. I felt like the format was not as effective in presenting the message. The first half was more memoir, while the last half were some anecdotes mixed with the principles. There are other books that have done this better.

I have been absorbing this book and trying to find the best way to describe Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. I highly recommend this book for those who feel like they are struggling with something in their own lives. Following, the Indigenous values there are other avenues to finding peace. It can be healing, and I think that is why I took me a while to write a review. The best way to sum up the book is it could be the start of healing.

The biggest difficulty for me with this book was it felt like a mislabel of genre. I went in expecting a “Seven Grandfathers” type experience and found myself in the middle of what felt more like a dual memoir. I was anticipating a description of each value using a story or anecdote from the authors’ lives, and illustrating how to apply it within our own. But I was halfway through the book before I realized that each chapter was discussing one of the ten values.

The chapter heading was a value, followed mostly by the authors’ family or personal histories, in which I would have to search for the relation to the titled value.

For me it just fell short in the application piece for the reader. As a Native reader, I value and actively seek out Native voices to help broaden and shift paradigms, but I felt like it needed a little more editing to help the reader use the principles in the book.

Journey to Eloheh is a transformative and enlightening read that introduces readers to ten Indigenous values essential for achieving true well-being and harmony. The authors, both deeply rooted in their Cherokee and Eastern Shoshone heritage, offer a holistic guide to living in balance with the Earth and each other. Through their personal journeys and the concept of Eloheh, they provide a roadmap for cultivating practices that promote respect, accountability, and sustainability. This book not only enhances your perspective but also offers practical ways to apply these timeless values to daily life.

This is a really good primer on Indigenous worldviews and how they differ from a Western one. Anyone who wants to learn more about Indigenous wisdom and ways of being should definitely check it out!