When Half Are Held Back: Rediscovering Inclusion Through Indigenous Wisdom

As part of recognizing Women's History Month this March, the high school where I work created a slideshow honoring prominent women throughout history. Each slide displayed their photo alongside one of their impactful quotes. One morning, as I walked down the hallway, a particular slide caught my attention and stopped me in my tracks. I paused, took a deep breath, and let the words settle within me. It felt like a moment, one that asked me to linger just a little longer and reflect more deeply.

The moment stayed with me, and I felt compelled to see the quote again. I immediately asked the librarian who had prepared the slideshow to share it with me, and she kindly did so right away. Here is the slide that stopped me in my tracks.

Malala Yousafzai spoke these powerful words during her address to the United Nations on July 12, 2013 (her 16th birthday) a day now recognized as 'Malala Day.' Reference taken from Iowa State University's website.

Her words echoed in my mind. Simple, yet profound. A truth that speaks not only to gender but to every corner of society where barriers exist. It made me pause and reflect, not just about who is being held back in obvious ways, but about the hidden, systemic ways people are held back without us even realizing it.

It made me wonder: "Who are the ones held back in subtle ways, their contributions overlooked, their histories erased, their value unseen?" And how often do we take progress for granted, forgetting the struggles that have shaped the freedoms we enjoy today?

This reflection led me to think about interconnectedness, about how the contributions of people from all over the world shape our daily lives. It also led me to consider the deeper stories beneath the surface, those unseen layers that shape our understanding of inclusion, contribution, and belonging. What does it really mean to recognize these? And what are we still missing?

And if what Malala says is true, that we cannot all succeed when half of us are held back, then we must ask ourselves: What is the true measure of progress if it leaves so many behind? And if even one voice is silenced, one contribution overlooked, or one community forgotten, what does that say about the world we are building together?

In the end, we are left with questions that challenge us to think deeper: Can anyone truly succeed if half are held back, knowing that we are all connected? Isn't the strength of one tied to the strength of all, and doesn’t the exclusion of some weaken the whole? And if we cannot all rise together, then what is the point of it all?

Malala’s words remind us that progress is collective. No one truly succeeds when entire groups are held back. And if that is true, then perhaps it is also true that the solutions we seek, about belonging, about inclusion, are not new ideas to be invented, but ancient truths waiting to be remembered.

What if the answers we seek about diversity, equity, and inclusion have already been known for thousands of years, but only forgotten? And what if inclusion is not merely a practice, but a law of nature? Let us dive in.

We often take for granted how far we have come as a world, thanks to the knowledge and creativity of people from diverse cultures. Many of the things we cherish in our daily lives exist because of the wisdom and traditions shared across generations. Take pizza for example, a game-changing gift from the Italians and loved all over the world. How about tacos and burritos, passed down through the rich culinary heritage of the Mexican people? And let’s not forget ayurveda and hatha yoga, ancient practices cultivated by the people of the Indian subcontinent, now embraced and enjoyed worldwide. These contributions remind us that progress is not the achievement of any one nation, but the result of cultures intertwining, sharing, and evolving together.

We can even see how traditional herbal remedies have now lined the shelves of major pharmacies, and how spice blends passed down from indigenous cultures have now defined global cuisine. With the advent of what we now call ‘superfoods,’ ingredients once native to distant regions are now celebrated worldwide for their healing properties. These ancestral treasures have become so seamlessly woven into our daily wellness routines that we often forget they originated from cultures far different from our own.

Just as these time-honored traditions have shaped the way we eat and heal, the creativity and resilience of people have transformed the way we express, create, and connect. Consider the artists, poets, and visionaries who gave rise to Hip-Hop. They were African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Latinos from the South Bronx of New York City, and their influence has grown into a global phenomenon, shaping music, dance, fashion, and art across continents.

Just as Hip-Hop has transcended borders, influencing creativity and self-expression worldwide, the digital age has given rise to new platforms that connect people across cultures in unprecedented ways. Similarly, in the digital realm, apps such as TikTok and RedNote, launched by Chinese entrepreneurs, exemplify the fusion of social networking and e-commerce. These apps, among others, have become a bridge connecting users worldwide, sharing lifestyle content and fostering cross-cultural interactions. These contributions remind us that progress is not the achievement of any one nation, but the result of cultures intertwining, sharing, and evolving together.

But beyond the digital networks and cultural exchanges, there is an often-overlooked reality. None of these innovations would exist without the physical resources that sustain them. Remember, even the raw materials that power our favorite gadgets and devices, the very ones we rely on every day, come from regions whose contributions are often overlooked?

And speaking of our favorite gadgets, let’s go there! Many of us already know that our mobile devices are powered by precious metals and minerals mined from the Global South. But did you know that more than half of the world's cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)? In 2023, the DRC accounted for nearly three-quarters of global cobalt production. This cobalt is essential for the lithium-ion batteries that power our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

Pic & reference taken from: The Independent (UK Edition) The artisanal mining industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is plagued by forced and child labor, unreported deaths, and widespread human rights abuses, writes academic and modern slavery researcher Siddharth Kara in his book Cobalt Red.

However, the extraction of this vital resource often comes at a significant human cost. Reports have highlighted issues such as child labor, hazardous working conditions, and human rights abuses in the DRC's mining industry. Despite the country's vast mineral wealth, many communities face poor economic conditions, leading to forced migration, while multinational companies continue to profit from these resources, extracting immense wealth with little regard for local populations. In the midst of it all, we as privileged consumers also benefit from these resources, often without awareness of the human toll they carry.

So what happens to those very same people who are displaced from their land due to such circumstances?

Across the Global South, similar patterns unfold, where entire populations are uprooted due to economic exploitation. And when these same people seek economic relief and attempt to restore their dignity through migration, what happens to them? They are often met with resistance, exclusion, and systemic barriers and yes, held back by forces that see their presence as a burden rather than a contribution.

It echoes the truth Malala Yousafzai so powerfully expressed: "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back." And when entire groups are denied access, dignity, and belonging, isn’t this a collective setback for all of us?

Yet history has shown that while people may be displaced, their knowledge, traditions, contributions, and wisdom do not disappear. They persist, adapt, and continue to shape the world in ways we often fail to acknowledge. Because inclusion is not just about allowing people into a space, it’s about recognizing the richness they bring and the ways their resilience strengthens the whole.

Nelson Mandela addresses the UN General Assembly in September 2004

Have you ever considered how, throughout centuries, the same communities that have been forced to leave their lands have also carried with them invaluable cultural, spiritual, intellectual and inspirational contributions? 

There is ancient wisdom coming from diverse parts of the world, from diverse cultures, and from diverse people. There is so much to learn when we include these perspectives into our everyday lives, recognizing how much we can grow from them. When we embrace this inclusion, we see how much our own lives become richer and more powerful. And for those who pause long enough to listen, and I mean really listen, the echoes of this wisdom can still be heard across time and space.

One of those listeners was Bert Hellinger, a German priest turned psychotherapist who, during his 16 years living among the Zulu people of South Africa, witnessed something very profound. Observing their deep respect for ancestral ties and systemic balance, he developed the foundation for what would later become known as Family Constellations, a therapeutic approach that reveals and resolves hidden dynamics within family systems.

Among the Zulu, Hellinger observed a way of being that challenged Western notions of individualism. He saw a people who understood belonging as a sacred order, resolving conflicts not through exclusion but through acknowledgment. This principle of acknowledgment is not just a cultural insight, it is a fundamental truth that applies across all systems, whether in families, organizations, or society.

A modern example of this can be seen in workplaces where DEI hiring practices are eliminated, leading to fewer people from underserved and disenfranchised communities in leadership roles. The absence of diverse voices creates blind spots in decision-making, disconnecting leadership from the realities of employees and customers. This, in turn, weakens innovation, lowers motivation, and diminishes competitive advantage. Just as in Family Constellations, where the exclusion of a family member disrupts the entire family system, often manifesting as unseen tensions and dysfunction; ignoring diverse perspectives in an organization gradually erodes its strength from within.

My Personal Journey with Family Constellations

I was first introduced to Family Constellations in Madrid, and was drawn to how profoundly it was impacting people and shifting deep-seated dynamics across generations. Witnessing its effects firsthand in Spain and Latin America, I knew this was something transformative.

In the summer of 2023, I traveled to Mexico City to attend a summer intensive program with a systemic focus at Universidad CUDEC. It was there that I met people from all over the Spanish speaking world, all tapping into Bert Hellinger's work and the teachings of Angélica Olvera, one of his dedicated disciples from Mexico who continues to spearhead this work all over the world.

Bert Hellinger and Angélica Olvera

The experience was beyond theoretical, it was deeply felt. I saw how Family Constellations and systemic work in general bridged not just personal healing, but collective and historical reconciliation. I witnessed people from different walks of life, each attesting to how this work had transformed their own lives and the lives of those they work with as facilitators. Through my own years of training in Family and Systemic Constellations, I have experienced firsthand how this framework not only shifted my own personal and family dynamics but has also profoundly impacted the individuals and groups I have had the honor of facilitating. The depth of healing that emerges when we acknowledge what has been unseen is something that continues to move me, time and time again.

Honoring the power of Systemic Work with my colleagues at a 2023 summer intensive in Mexico City.

The Power of Indigenous Wisdom in Healing and Systemic Work

Systemic work teaches us that exclusion is never neutral. When someone is held back, forgotten, rejected, or dishonored, whether in a family, an organization, or a society, imbalance emerges. Unresolved wounds continue to play out, manifesting as conflict, disconnection, and unseen barriers to growth.

Healing begins when all voices are given their rightful place. This is especially evident in education systems.

For instance, when schools remove culturally inclusive curriculum and representation in education, whether by erasing diverse histories, limiting access to ethnic studies, or defunding programs that support historically marginalized students, entire communities feel the impact.

When students do not see themselves reflected in what they learn, they may disengage from their education, leading to lower academic performance, higher dropout rates, and long-term economic struggles. Their families, unable to navigate an unwelcoming school system, often remain disconnected, perpetuating cycles of educational and financial instability across generations.

The consequences of these exclusions extend beyond the students themselves. Higher dropout rates contribute to lower lifetime earnings, increased reliance on social services, and even higher rates of crime and incarceration, costing communities both economically and socially as well as individuals mentally and emotionally.

Bert Hellinger discovered that in Family Constellations work, when cultural roots are severed, later generations often experience disconnection, emotional struggles, and unresolved patterns that manifest in ways they may not consciously understand. Just as exclusion from one’s ancestral lineage can create unseen burdens within the family system, exclusion from an educational system, or any system meant to nurture and empower, leads to lasting imbalances that ripple through families and society as a whole.

It echoes the powerful words of Malala Yousafzai: "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back." And when systems are designed to benefit only a select few, aren’t we, as a society, holding ourselves back from true progress?

We also notice in systemic work that resistance to inclusion often stems from deeper systemic patterns. Many institutions were built on systems that excluded certain groups from the start, whether through colonialism, slavery, segregation, or legal discrimination. These historical injustices created long-lasting disparities in wealth, education, and political power. When inclusion efforts seek to address these disparities, those who benefited from the status quo may resist change because they see it as a loss rather than a rebalancing.

An example would be Redlining in the U.S., which systematically excluded certain families, based on their race or ethnicity, from homeownership, creating a racial wealth gap that still exists today. When policies aim to close this gap (e.g., housing assistance programs), there is often resistance from those who fear it gives "unfair advantages" to marginalized groups.

Inclusion Strengthens Us All

We are all connected, whether we acknowledge it or not. Just as indigenous wisdom, such as Family Constellations, teaches that excluding an ancestor creates invisible burdens for future generations, excluding voices from the table creates social, economic, and cultural blind spots that affect us all.

And when we hold others back, we inevitably hold ourselves back too. This limits not only their potential but also our own capacity for understanding, growth, and collective progress.

Perhaps our task is not to reinvent, but to remember.

To rebalance and bring forth wholeness.

To acknowledge the wisdom that has always been there.

To heal not just through ideas, but through the inclusion of people, histories, and truths that have been denied for far too long.

And let us observe what happens when we stop resisting wisdom and wholeness.

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