Post by Okwes on Mar 7, 2008 13:38:39 GMT -5
Native, earth relations not always harmonious Emma Schmautz |
During last week's installment of the President's Lecture
Series, leading American Indian activist and environmentalist Winona
LaDuke urged her audience to take inspiration from native tribes to
solve problems of energy sustainability in today's society.
While certain knowledge about proper land use and environmental
protection might be gained from some American Indian tribes, it is
important not to hold an idealized view of history.
People's negative influence on the environment is nothing new.
There is a common utopian picture that American Indians all lived in
complete harmony with the land, never used their environment beyond its
capacity, and always kept a balance between taking and giving back to
Mother Earth. This is nonsense.
Large populations of people, regardless of whether they are American
Indian or white or any other race, when living in a certain area, will
have a large impact on their surrounding environment.
For example, a recent study by University of Utah archaeologist Jack
Broughton discovered that California was not always the Eden of milk and
honey people imagined.
By analyzing 5,736 bird bones from American Indian dumping grounds, as
well as researching the history of fish and mammal populations,
Broughton determined that California's historical native tribes
hunted the state's wildlife to near extinction. It was only after
European diseases killed thousands of natives in the 1500s that
California's wildlife, including geese, elk and deer, flourished
again.
The Anasazi tribe, who encompassed populations of pueblo dwellers in the
Four Corners region of the Southwest, was also guilty of environmental
degradation. Poor farming techniques that depleted the soil of minerals,
deforestation leading to erosion and lack of wood for fuel, over-hunting
that caused widespread starvation and brutal wars over water rights all
contributed to the collapse of the ancient civilization.
We can take lessons from the past, but we should also remember how
valuable new technology and innovation is in helping the world solve
energy and resource issues.
"We believe we are able to outsmart the oceans and winds,"
LaDuke said. "We are foolish."
Perhaps we can't outsmart the oceans and the winds, but we can
harness them. Advanced technology allowing us to capture energy from
winds and tides has provided entire towns and portions of cities with
electricity.
We should not hold a nostalgic longing for a past we image to be
pristine. Instead, we should view historical societies as they actually
were and use their failures, along with their accomplishments, to help
guide us in making current decisions about our environment and natural
resources.
During last week's installment of the President's Lecture
Series, leading American Indian activist and environmentalist Winona
LaDuke urged her audience to take inspiration from native tribes to
solve problems of energy sustainability in today's society.
While certain knowledge about proper land use and environmental
protection might be gained from some American Indian tribes, it is
important not to hold an idealized view of history.
People's negative influence on the environment is nothing new.
There is a common utopian picture that American Indians all lived in
complete harmony with the land, never used their environment beyond its
capacity, and always kept a balance between taking and giving back to
Mother Earth. This is nonsense.
Large populations of people, regardless of whether they are American
Indian or white or any other race, when living in a certain area, will
have a large impact on their surrounding environment.
For example, a recent study by University of Utah archaeologist Jack
Broughton discovered that California was not always the Eden of milk and
honey people imagined.
By analyzing 5,736 bird bones from American Indian dumping grounds, as
well as researching the history of fish and mammal populations,
Broughton determined that California's historical native tribes
hunted the state's wildlife to near extinction. It was only after
European diseases killed thousands of natives in the 1500s that
California's wildlife, including geese, elk and deer, flourished
again.
The Anasazi tribe, who encompassed populations of pueblo dwellers in the
Four Corners region of the Southwest, was also guilty of environmental
degradation. Poor farming techniques that depleted the soil of minerals,
deforestation leading to erosion and lack of wood for fuel, over-hunting
that caused widespread starvation and brutal wars over water rights all
contributed to the collapse of the ancient civilization.
We can take lessons from the past, but we should also remember how
valuable new technology and innovation is in helping the world solve
energy and resource issues.
"We believe we are able to outsmart the oceans and winds,"
LaDuke said. "We are foolish."
Perhaps we can't outsmart the oceans and the winds, but we can
harness them. Advanced technology allowing us to capture energy from
winds and tides has provided entire towns and portions of cities with
electricity.
We should not hold a nostalgic longing for a past we image to be
pristine. Instead, we should view historical societies as they actually
were and use their failures, along with their accomplishments, to help
guide us in making current decisions about our environment and natural
resources.