Haudenosaunee Environmental News Report January Vol. 1 #5 Page 1

Haudenosaunee Environmental News Report
January Vol. 1 #5 2002
_________

Prepared by Kanatiiosh (Barbara Gray),
HETF Environmental Law Researcher

This report shares current environmental issues and developments in Environmental and Federal Indian Law. In this report, you will find three articles and two newspaper excerpts.

The first article is written in response to growing concerns over North America's shrinking biodiversity. The second article is written in response to talks to relax the Clean Air Act standards concerning when a modification triggers an upgrade to more stringent pollution controls. The third article is a review and comment about an Online database concerning Alaskan traditional knowledge and Native foods.

The first newspaper excerpt has to do with a PCB slick found on the St. Lawrence River east of Kahnawake and the second article is about reforms in Hydropower licenses.

Table of Contents

    1.    THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY: A View from the Canoe

    2    The Clean Air Act: In the Spirit of the Law

    3.    Alaska Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Database

4. Environmental News Notes & Links

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
A View from the Canoe
by Barbara Gray (Kanatiiosh)

    Biodiversity, although the Haudenosaunee never called it such, is an ancient concept respected and treasured within our traditional world view. In our traditional teachings, we learn of the importance and the interconnectedness of each being within the Natural World. Each being was given original instructions on how to live in harmony with the rest of the Natural World. Thus, each being, no matter how big or small, has a special duty to maintain the intricate balance that creates and maintains peace.

    Peace is not just the absence of war and strife. If we, as human beings, are not living with respect and love for each other and all the beings we thank in the Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen (Thanksgiving Address), then there is no peace. Peace occurs when we live in harmony with the Natural World, and peace occurs when the other elements of the Natural World follow their instructions. In essence, from the Canoe's perspective, bio-diversity must be retained for there to be Peace. Without biodiversity, the natural balance is jeopardized.

    What are the special duties of the non-humans? The duties are complex. We are just beginning to understand the duties of some, but we might never know or understand the duties of others. We know that some plants and trees contain healing powers. We were taught a long time ago how to pick, prepare, and use medicines. The plants and trees were given healing properties to help others in the Natural World, which includes human beings. Some plants that grow on the banks of rivers like the dog-toothed violet's roots (Erythronium americanum L.), leach tannic acid out of the oak leaves that have fallen to the ground. The plant ensures that rains that wash into the river will be free of that tannic acid that would have an adverse reaction on the native aquatic life.

    To many people, the beaver is a nuisance. However, the beaver, too, was given special instructions and is important to maintaining balance within the Great Circle of Life. The purity of underground water and the creation of wetlands is the beaver's special power.   The beaver's dam creates new wetlands and a lush meadow. The wetland and meadow becomes habitat and a nursery for fish, frogs, reptiles, insects, birds, and other animals. The beaver provides a place for other beings to fulfill their instructions.

    The dam also works to filter water. The trees used in construction of the dam, especially willow trees, soak up water and filter out toxic pollution. In turn, these waters provide a healthy environment for the animals, trees, and medicine plants, while also refilling underground aquifers with filtered water. These dams are not permanent. In time the old dam will be abandoned and give way leaving behind rich soil that may be used to grow corn, beans, squash, and medicines.

    From the Canoe's perspective, biodiversity is of utmost importance, for without it, we are heading towards chaos. The Ship's perspective is based on a different world view. A world view based on dominion over animals. The Ship's historic use of a cost/benefit analysis that prefers economic interests over environmental and human interests has led to disharmony not only to the environment, but to the Native Nations as well.    This preference has led to the crisis North America now faces with the shrinking of biodiversity.

Even in laws that are designed to protect the environment, there are still clauses that allow for economic interests to be asserted over the protection of the environment. This world view has helped to lead to the shrinking biodiversity in North America.

    The Ship has allowed contiguous forests to become fragmented. This phenomena is sometimes called the island effect. The reduction of contiguous forests strands isolates and jeopardizes species dependent on large tracts of land for survival. The Island effect makes native species vulnerable to parasitic species that would normally not make it into the depths of the woods. We see this with the parasitic nesting of cowbirds who lay their eggs in nests for other birds to raise. This act jeopardizes the survival of the host species.   Why have these contiguous forests been destroyed and lost? The answer is mainly due to shortsightedness and the glittering lure of profit.

    With the Ship, has come the introduction of non-native species that are jeopardizing native species. This phenomena is also called "bio-invasion". Example of some non-native or exotic species include the Eurasian zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).   In some regions, non-native fish, birds, or animals are introduced to support economic opportunities surrounding tourism, hunting, and fishing.   Exotic species are a threat to native species because they often change the habitat, smother out the native, or try to breed with native species; thus, destroying the genetic diversity. In some cases, the exotic species may consume the native species, which may lead to the extinction of native species.

    Some people in the Ship have begun to realize that the environment is not a commodity that can be exploited without severe repercussion. On January 7th, the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NACEC) released a study that warned of the imminent crisis to North America due to the reduction of biodiversity. The study, The North American Mosaic: A State of the Environment Report states:

North America's diminishing biological diversity has profound consequences. Because the loss is irreversible -- species that are lost are lost forever -- the potential impact on the human condition, on the fabric of the continent's living systems, and on the process of evolution is immense. (FN1)

The report goes on to warn that the shrinking biodiversity will lead to an increase of costly natural disasters, species extinction, and drought, if intervention is not put into place. The Canoe has known for a longtime that biodiversity is needed to retain balance in the Natural World, for without it, sickness, disharmony, and chaos is sure to follow. The Canoe offers a hand to our brothers and sisters and hopes the ship heeds the warnings of the NACEC report and stops putting short term economic profits over the health and welfare of the people and the rest of the Natural World.

FN 1. The North American Mosaic: A State of the Environment Report

Further Reading:

Ransom, J. W., Ed. (2000). Words That Come Before All Else. Cornwall Island, Ontario, North American Travelling College.

For an excerpt of the book see: Words That Come Before All Else

Thanksgiving Address

Loosestrife
What You Should Know and What You Should Do by Peggy Pyke-Thompson

Dog Tooth Violet

For a picture of the plant see: Dog Toothed Violet aka Trout Lily

Click on the Canada Goose, on the right, to go to the next page

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