#102: Tor Fjelldal: A Norwegian's musings on what indigenous wisdom can offer our world today

The Economics of Well-Being

Tor Fjelldal joins me today from Entrance Ranch near Jasper National Park in Alberta. Tor is a Norwegian by birth who has had a rich and varied life that began with life-changing health conditions as a young boy growing up in a little town south of Oslo, Norway. His life path led him to Alberta where he has spent time at his Norwegian uncle Rocky's Entrance Ranch located on the Athabasca River just north of Hinton, Alberta.

There Tor encountered many Native wisdom keepers and traditions, including the spiritual teachings of Chief Jimmy O'Chiese (a direct descendant of the Odawa Anishnabe (Objiwa) Chief Pontiac (1714-1769), one of the key contributors to the Royal Proclamation of 1763 with King George III of Great Britain.

Tor is one of those special human beings that crosses one's path with such a variety of gifts and talents. Tor is a natural entrepreneur and inventor as well as a very spiritual person who has been immersed in indigenous or Native spirituality and ceremony.

Today we spoke about a variety of subjects that include his insights into his Norwegian homeland which regularly rated one of the happiest countries in the world and one of the richest in terms of GDP and a sovereign wealth fund. Norwegians, despite having enviable financial wealth, are struggling more with depression, suicide and growing rates of poverty. Tor has delved into alternative blockchain cryptocurrency systems; a subject of mutual interest. We also talk about what we can learn from First Nations elders and their spiritual wisdom applied to many of today's major challenges.

Tor gives us hope that we are indeed capable of greater things when we are in tune with the natural flow of nature and life.