The Climate Moment ….
What’s happening around the world about climate? Selected moments from the collection of Reevaluation Counseling leader Russ Vernon-Jones and shared by local Omni member Dorothy Marcy
n the spirit of what is going well here are some ways that Indigenous peoples continue to care for this Earth and support her ability to care for us her children.
Hydroelectric dams along the Trinity and Klamath Rivers in Northern California, USA are being disasssembled, taken apart and dismantled. The impact of the 4 dams over many years has reduced the number and survival of Salmon which in turn has impacted the lives and well being of the Yurok, Klamath and Hupa Tribes whose traditional livelihoods are closely intertwined with the health of the these rivers.
Traditional Arts revitalization and sustainable practices flourish. The American Indian Art Institute is featuring a “Integrated Coil Basketry” workshop. In teaching basket making this project uses geometric shapes and facilitates a better understanding of plants.
Both Western Scientific Data and Indigenous Environmental knowledge are used to determine endangered species designations. Polar bear habitat observations were brought to the attention of the US Fish and Wildlife Service by the Chukotka, Inuit and other coastal peoples. This traditional knowledge jointly brought about the Endangered Species designation for the Polar Bear.
“We humans are meant to be connected to each other and to the earth. When we are disconnected we create grossly unequal societies that harm humans and harm the earth.” – (paraphrase of Marama Davidson, female Maori member of the New Zealand Parliament)