Overview

In this class, we will explore humanity’s historical and contemporary purpose as a keystone species, or a species upon which entire ecosystems depend. We will contrast the ways in which Euro-centric conceptions of humanity differ with many Indigenous conceptions of the human being. One often sees humanity as a problem, a pest, a polluter, founded in “original sin.” Whereas many Indigenous creation stories position humanity as having profound belonging on the earth and responsibility for specific ecological roles.

We will review briefly the case studies from Parts I, II, III of the 2026 eco-series, which demonstrate the many instances where humanity played a pivotal role in creating ecosystem health. We will then discuss the underlying value systems and “cultural softwares” that enabled these civilizations to be a great gift to the plants and animals and other lifeforms around them. This exploration of values, stories, and softwares, highlights the vast importance of our founding societal principles and how they become the rudder and guiding force of the worlds we create. 

We will give students a foundational and perhaps new understanding of themselves as a great and beautiful gift to the earth, full of potential to catalyze biodiversity and ecosystem health, as well as provide practical tools for building that future.

In this course you will:

• Gain new perspectives on what it means to be human

• Rediscover the ecological role of Homo sapiens

• Learn concrete examples of civilizations that nourish and support their land bases

• Have the opportunity to reflect with other students on course material

• Gain practical skills and actions that can be taken on individual, municipal, state and national levels to return humanity to the role of a keystone species

Session Logistics

• We meet via Zoom for the Human Beings as a Keystone Species Session (Part IV of summer eco-series) on Sunday, July 26th, 2026

• Class takes place 9-11am Pacific Time (time zone converter)

• Recordings are available for days you miss!

• Recordings, resources, and access to our international Community are all available after registration

• Review Fire Session (Part I): Indigenous Regenerative Fire Applications

• Review Soil Session (Part II): Indigenous Soil Cultivation Techniques

• Review Fisheries Session (Part III): Indigenous Sustainable Fisheries: Past & Present

Cost: Free or sliding-scale

We suggest a $20-$40 donation for this course, but no one is turned away for lack of funds!

To see our full list of courses, visit www.rehuman.earth/courses