And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: NORTHWEST COAST INDIANS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS By [EMAIL PROTECTED] Prior to the advent of the Europeans to the homelands of the Northwest Coast Indians, the people could depend on the Natural World for their survival. The Northwest Coast people's diet was 90% dependant on fish, salmon being the primary fish eaten, the rest of their diet was supplemented by game, which was plentiful, and minimal gathering of wild plants sustained them, too. The Natural World provided the people with an abundant source of food that could feed immense populations. To the Northwest Nations, the salmon was and is as central to the economy and culture as the buffalo was and is to the Native Nations of the Great Plains. I use the phrase was and is because too many people wrongly think that Native American Indian ways of life, traditional teachings, and other cultural ways are extinct, which they are not! While many of our traditional economy and ways have been greatly impacted, especially by assimilation and environmental poisoning, many traditional people still remain and are holding on strong to their unique cultures, languages, and traditional teachings, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The main lesson we all need to learn in order to survive is that we all share this planet together. While some mistakenly think that the environmental degradation only impacts other peoples and other cultures, there is only one Mother Earth and what one does to her, one does to themself. The natural environment and the people are intricately tied together. If one impedes or destroys the Natural World of which Native peoples are dependent for cultural and economic survival, one commits not only ecocide, but one commits genocide of the culture. In other words, if one takes away the salmon, that is ecocide. If one takes away the salmon and the people stop doing the ceremonies for the fish, then that is killing of the cultural. If the Salmon is eradicated, and the ceremony no longer done, then the future generations will lose their traditional teachings and may become assimilated to the dominant culture's way of life and forget their traditional teachings. This is not only a problem for the Northwest Nations it is a problem that all the First Nations of Turtle Island face and must prevent from happening. As I mentioned before, the Northwest Nations are delicately tied together with the Natural World. Their traditional ecological knowledge, which is embedded within their traditional teachings provides for living in harmony with the Natural World. Since the Salmon is central to their survival, the Northwest Coastal Indians have ceremonies and events to show their respect for the life and duty of Salmon that are done to thank the Salmon and to assure that they return the following year. The following words are an excerpt from the book Ecocide of Native America: "The salmon were also part of the spirit world of Northwest peoples. They were believed to be spirit beings who had their village under the western ocean. Their annual pilgrimages to the rivers and bays were seen as acts of voluntary sacrifice for the benefit of their human friends. Though they seemed to die, the spirits simply removed their outer "Salmon robes" and journeyed back to their undersea homes. But they would return again if their gifts of flesh were treated with respect". One of the ways the Salmon is treated with respect is by the First Salmon Ceremony. The first Salmon to return from its long journey from the ocean is caught and placed on a mat or cedar board with its head facing upstream. Then, the Salmon is often sprinkled with down as the ceremonial speech begins. The fish is cooked and divided amongst the people gathered. There is gift giving and other events, songs, etc. that continue for several days. During these several days, many migrating salmon are freely returning home to spawn after which they die. The important thing to see here is that the traditional ecological knowledge inherent in the Northwest Indians traditional teachings (ceremonies and practices that allow many fish to go through) provides for making sure that enough salmon are allowed to spawn to assure the future of the salmon population. Unfortunately, the salmon runs have been greatly impacted by dams, pollution and over fishing by commercial industries. Thus, many salmon are on the endangered species list. Dams are a big problem for salmon because not only do they create obstacles for fish to migrate over, but many baby salmon that hatch in fresh water are killed by the hydroelectric dams or explode when the pressure fluctuates as they attempt to float out to salt water. Dams also change the water temperature and the quality. Many salmon that do return from the ocean have problems finding their way back to their traditional spawning beds, which have also changed due to dams and other construction that has changed the water ways. Some scientists believe that salmon find their ways back to their spawning beds through their sense of smell, which has been impeded by the changes in the rivers. Also, the dams have changed the river bottom's sediment, and salmon need a certain size of gravel to lay their eggs in, which has also added to their decline. These environmental impacts are ecocide to not only the salmon and man, but to every link in the Great Web of Life. Since Native American Indian culture is intricately woven together with the environment, ecocide is genocide and has the potential to kill traditional cultures as well. "culturalcide". Please protect the integrity of our culture and rivers, for the rivers and traditional teachings are sacred blood, which flows within all of mankind and Mother earth. ****** Book cited: Donald A. Grinde & Bruce Johansen. Ecocide of Native America: Environmental Destruction Of Indian Lands and People. New Mexico: Clear Light Publishing, 1995. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
