Meet Four Arrows
Scholar,
Four Arrows (Wahinkpe Topa) aka Dr. Don Trent Jacobs is the author of 23 books and numerous chapters, articles, peer-reviewed papers, and keynotes. Four Arrows is internationally known for his work in cognitive anthropology (worldview studies), education, critical theory, and wellness. He was the subject of a book by R.M. Fisher entitled Fearless Engagement of Four Arrows: A True Story of an Indigenous Based Social Transformer.
AERO elected him as one of 27 visionaries for their text, Turning Points, and he is recipient of a number of recognitions for his activism, including the Martin-Springer Institute's Moral Courage Award.
In 2018, The Chicago Wisdom Project, selected Four Arrows's book, Teaching Truly A Curriculum to Indigenize Mainstream Education, as one of the top twenty education books of all time along side such distinguished authors as Neil Postman, Paulo Freire, John Dewey, and others.
He was formerly with Fielding Graduate University for 24 years, Dean of Education at Oglala Lakota College and tenured Associate Professor at Northern Arizona University. With doctorates in health psychology and in Curriculum and Instruction (with a cognate in Indigenous Worldview) he has authored 23 books and numerous other publications relating to wellness, critical theory, education and Indigenous worldview. His publications have been praised by a number of notable thinkers, including John Pilger, Greg Cajete, Noam Chomsky, Thom Hartman, Henry Giroux, Sam Keen, Bruce Lipton, Dan Millman, Vine Deloris, Jr. and many others.
He is currently involved in helping create the first No Take Zone Marine Park on the Costalegre in Mexico. Four Arrow was first alternate for the 1996 Olympic Equestrian Endurance Team and placed 4th in the World Championship Old Time Piano Contest. He enjoys a number of ocean sports at his homes in Jalisco, Mexico and British Columbia, Canada with his photographer wife. He is a popular and thought-provoking keynoter and has presented on various topics in Australia, Canada, the U.S., Mexico, South Korea, and Japan and is on the Fulbright list of International Scholars.
Visit the Worldview Literacy Project to discover the Worldview Chart by Four Arrows, translated into English, German, and Spanish, along with a 90-day self-study program and many other resources. Four Arrows is the director of the Worldview Literacy Project and a member of the board of directors for its parent nonprofit, Kindred World.
Endorsements
Four Arrows's work provides a path to the future, a path of peace, with signposts from Indigenous world views that recognize that we are interconnected and are all members of one Earth family. Our highest duty, our Dharma , is living in harmony with all our relations."
- Vandana Shiva, Physicist, recipient of the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize, the Right Livelihood Award, author of over 20 books,
"Outstanding scholarship...giant first steps toward the goal in the truthful and constructive understanding of Indigenous Worldview."
- Daniel R. Wildcat, Professor of American Indian Studies, Haskell Indian Nations University
On Four Arrows' book Teaching Truly:
"This enlightening book reminds us that the grim prognosis for life on this planet is the consequence of a few centuries of forgetting what traditional societies knew.. pay careful attention to their educational practices as brought to us in these thoughtful chapters."
—Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at MIT
“Educators should be paying attention to what Four Arrows offers in this book.”
—Bill McKibben, distinguished scholar and founder of 360.org.
Photo by Beatrice Jacobs