After spending upwards of the last 16 months dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, planners find themselves at a crossroads where we are tasked with making decisions to mitigate the effects of future pandemics. This is the time to really look at alternative frameworks that challenge the status quo of dealing with problems only once they arise.
One alternative framework with promise is the seventh generation principle. Originating from The Great Law of Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the seventh generation principle refers to the practice of considering the ramifications of all major public decisions, with the specific goal of maintaining a sustainable future for at least seven generations down the line (Joseph 2020). While in its original context, this principle was heavily tied to environmental maintenance, I posit there are other areas where this type of thinking could be useful. We, as contemporary planners, often spend too much time dealing with present issues, while, in turn, neglecting more persistent, long-term issues as they seem out of our range. Perhaps, these issues like climate, public health, infrastructure revival, etc… require our consistent attention in order to be maintained for the long-term future.
Figure 1. Sculpture by Frederick Franck depicting the seventh generation principle. Image Source: Murat Tanyel; https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/North_America/United_States/Nor theast/Pennsylvania/Lewisburg/photo1427926.htm
References
Joseph, B. (2020). What is the seventh Generation Principle? Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/seventh-generation-principle