The concept of time is essentially how cultures perceive processes of change. If everything in the universe stood absolutely still, we would not notice any progression in time. The progression of time in western and colonial cultures is merely a result of the speed at which changes occur. The faster events occur the more efficient the events are deemed are therefore more positively judged. In Quechua culture, as well as most tribal north american cultures and some eastern cultures time is marked by the quality of the action that is taking place. A ceremony, ritual or celebration may last days weeks or months and there may be nothing physical to show for it in the end. Many of trials and tribulations that tribal members are made to go through as rites of passage only have products created on the spiritual sphere of the individual or community. Western cultures might judge that there is no product at the end of such activity so that said activity is a “waste of time.” One can only waste time if it is seen as an actual physical product, but even western science is at odds with itself as to whether time is a physical entity separate from space. 1
In art there is the concept of “evidence of time spent” on something which is usually related to the it’s quality or beauty. Both of these concepts emphasize a transcendental quality of time that is not able to be be measured quantitatively. The quantification of time was a practice that was brought to the Americas during colonization, along with capitalist exploitation that sought to put a price on people’s time, and gave birth to the U.S. theory of life and capitalist motto “time is money”. Time no longer belonged to the people, but it became another scarce resource to be bought, sold, traded, and stolen. 2
In indigenous cultures time was related to the “quality of time spent”. Social communion was something seen as an inherently valuable activity to spend your time on. There is the African adage, “if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” It is not uncommon in indigenous cultures to be late to appointments because you got involved in a conversation, or had to do something for or with a community member. Personal relationships are what is valued. It is one of the primary reasons why people here are commonly “late” to their appointments, even if it’s a business appointment where money is involved. There is unspoken understanding that there are more important aspects of life that govern our lives, other than money. In Quechua culture “time” was measured as the experience of cooking potatoes. This understanding of the the “quality of time spent” is what fosters a culture which can be hostile to the flow and accumulation of capital. The sheer inefficiency of the system can also be looked at as it’s rate of resistance to exploitation and commodification of life. When “one pays attention to the terrestrial rhythms of life, rather than to artificial time cycles of WIERD (Western, Industrialized, Educated, Rich and Democratic)3 countries is when we start creating a decolonized culture that respects life more than time or money.
Colonization imposed a new scale onto the timeline of colonized people. Changes happened at a faster rate, ritualistic and agricultural rhythms and cycles that marked the passage of time were banned and suppressed. The new order imposed was determined by economic drivers, the whims of royalty, and the lust for gold. Colonization is an ongoing process, currently, there are still communities that have resisted and are resisting colonization, The concepts of time that these cultures hold are still being practiced and understood intuitively and collectively. There sun, the weather, and a myriad of festivals celebrating a multiplicity of gods are all more important factors in whether an appointment will happen or not than the actual date and time. This is directly antagonistic to modern industrial processes. It is not appealing to international investors, it does not guarantee a quick turnaround, and will not give you a refund for your lost time. Pre colonial agricultural cultures had to respect the natural cycles of time because their life sources depended on it. One can get the sense of the patience needed if they grow their own food. People would be less likely to ask for discounts at the farmers market if they had ever had to tend to a garlic clove for 3 months before being able to consume it.
The WEIRD concept of time imposed on the Americas is constantly in a hurried rush to develop a faster acting formula but nature doesn’t do next day shipping. Colonized time is the environment that breeds stress, and stress is the root of illness. It doesn’t give you the time to cry or to feel, therefore it doesn’t give you the time to heal either. Just a new idea can’t do much for healing trauma, how we live the new idea in our daily lives is a substantive part of the healing process. The concept of time in our respective cultures is something that is hardly talked about or questioned, but it is a concept which maybe limiting our capacity to heal if we do not become more conscious of how we live it. If we do not give ourselves the time to do this we will go through life suffering, not just from our own trauma but from the violence that we will inevitably perpetuate if haven’t dealt with our own wounds.
