Marshall, a professional travel writer, shares her remarkable experiences meeting and being invited by Indigenous Peoples to immerse in three "Earthly Shangri-Las”: Morocco’s Atlas Mountains with Amazigh nomads, Southern Alberta with Blackfoot Confederacy Elders, and Nepal. Marshall’s eloquent writing provides insights into these sacred regions where Indigenous Elders share how the land nourished them and all was in balance for thousands of years, versus now, with our ailing planet at a “tipping point,” needing transformative change. Many of these valleys remain hidden, existing outside of protected zones, on the brink of human destruction. Marshall reflects how much Indigenous history is lost by the world not paying attention or by misdirected attention. The key may be found within the Indigenous groups of these Happy Valleys, suggesting we “let go of our regular way of thinking and habits” to reconnect with nature and ourselves. A thoughtful read, particularly as a cross-cultural analysis of Indigenous wisdom and what defines happiness.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Hooks/skin piercings during Sundance ceremony.
Other End Matter: Footnotes, glossary
Images: Colour photographs, b&w photographs, maps
Bibliography: Yes
Index: No

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

Jane Marshall has written for the Edmonton Journal, Travel Alberta, VUE Weekly, Avenue Magazine, and the University of Alberta’s Illuminate magazine, and was content editor for the “Capital Ideas” sections in the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald. She currently writes an adventure blog for Breathe Outdoors to inspire people to connect with nature. Her first book, Back Over the Mountains (Penguin) introduced her to the Himalayas and she’s been learning about sacred lands ever since. Marshall fell in love with the land and people of Tsum, Nepal, and co-founded The Compassion Project, a Canadian-registered charity striving to improve healthcare and education. Her trekking company, Karuna Mountain Adventures, connects people to the land and people of Nepal so that they too can experience the Himalayas. She lives in Canmore with her husband and two children and teaches English to refugees and newcomers. You can find her in the alpine, random camping or skiing, and at seejanewrite.ca.

Jane Marshall's profile page

“Many of us live in a fast-paced and frenetic world and we know, deep down, that no amount of money can buy happiness. It is precisely this place where our modern systems fall apart that Jane Marshall proposes we turn to ancient ways of life and Indigenous knowledge to point the way to a better future — for ourselves and the planet. Searching for Happy Valley is a poignant, beautifully written, and immersive story of Marshall’s journey into three sacred valleys to discover not only where their monikers come from but also what we will hear when we can humble ourselves enough to truly listen. In the face of an environmental crisis, rising mental health issues, and widespread loneliness, Marshall’s findings offer us hope. This book is as much a call to decolonize our narratives as it is an encouragement to lace up our boots and renew our connection to the land and our fellow humans so that we all might thrive.”—Meghan J. Ward, author of Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure and Parenting