FINDING THE TREASURES LEFT ALONG THE TRAIL
I HAVE DEDICATED MUCH OF MY RETIREMENT YEARS ATTEMPTING TO REACH OUT AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE DEPENDENCE HUMANITY HAS ON THE NATURAL WORLD FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE. THE 34 YEARS I SPENT IN NUMEROUS ASSIGNMENTS, APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF FORESTRY, PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVE A MAJOR PART OF THE OF THE NATURAL WORLD. IT LEFT ME WITH CONCERNS AND A DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURAL PROCESSES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE HUMAN SPECIES. I STUDIED SCIENTIFIC BOOKS, JOURNALS AND PAPERS, RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY AND BIBLICAL REFERENCES, IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONS WE SHARE WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.
MY WIFE IS A MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, WHICH ENCOURAGED US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE LEARNED MUCH FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH NATIVE FRIENDS AND WRITTEN MATERIALS THAT PRESENT TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGES OF THEIR BELIEFS AND CULTURAL VALUES. THESE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND HAVE LEARNED THE NECESSITY OF LIVING IN BALANCE WITH NATURE. MOST OF US KNOW LITTLE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT, WHICH GENERALLY RESULTS IN BIASES, PREJUDICES AND DIVISION.
MY LIFE TIME OF EXPERIENCES, OBSERVATIONS, STUDIES AND ANALYSIS; HAVE LED ME TO A NUMBER OF BELIEFS THAT ARE PARAMOUNT IN EXTENDING FUTURE LIFE ON PLANET EARTH. MANY OF THESE INSIGHTS RESULTED FROM STUDYING OTHER ECO-FRIENDLIER CULTURES RELATIONSHIPS TO NATURE. I AM CONVINCED, IF WE ARE GOING TO ADJUST TO CREATE A DESIRABLE FUTURE, SIGNIFICANT CHANGE MUST OCCUR AND WE MUST JOIN HANDS WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK.
TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY, I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE WISDOM PRESENTED BY INDIGENOUS LEADERS OF THE PAST, WHOM WE LABELED SAVAGES. IF ONLY WE COULD ACCEPT AND APPLY THEIR TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGES! I ACCEPT THAT WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT AT WHAT EXPENSE? THE LAST 200 YEARS HAVE DESTROYED A LARGE PORTION OF THE NATURAL WORLD WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR LIFE ON EARTH. TO BEGIN WITH, WE MUST APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE VIEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EARTH AS OPPOSED TO HOW DOMINANT SOCIETY SEES EARTH. NATIVE PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES AS A SMALL PART OF THE EARTH COMMUNITY, WHERE DOMINANT SOCIETY SEE EARTH AS BELONGING TO US AND OUR DEVINE RIGHT TO DO WITH AS WE WANT. AFTER ALL THE BIBLE TELLS US TO TAKE DOMINION OVER THE PLANET AND ALL OTHER LIFE.
LET’S LISTEN TO A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM FROM PAST LEADERS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A BRIEF REVIEW, IF YOU LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART YOU MAY BEGIN TO SENSE AN APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATURAL WORLD WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ALL PEOPLE.
“THE INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS OF OUR CONTINENT WERE NOT ONE PEOPLE. THEIR CUSTOMS, LANGUAGES, HOUSING AND GOVERNING RULES WERE DIFFERENT. BUT THEY SHARED A COMMON BELIEF THAT THE EARTH IS A SPIRITUAL PRESENCE THAT MUST BE HONORED, NOT MASTERED, THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE HAS NEVER DIED. IT LIVES ON IN THE SPIRIT OF THE NATURAL WORLD.” KENT NERBURN - AUTHOR
“THE EARTH IS THE MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLE, AND ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS UPON IT.” CHIEF JOSEPH, 1879
“SELL THE COUNTRY! WHY NOT SELL THE AIR, THE CLOUDS AND THE GREAT SEA AS WELL AS THE EARTH? DID NOT THE GREAT SPIRIT MAKE THEM ALL FOR THE USE OF HIS CHILDREN?” TECUMSEH, SHAWNEE.
“THE GREAT SPIRIT TOLD ME THAT THE LAND BELONGED TO HIM, THAT NO PEOPLE OWN THE LAND; AND THAT I WAS NOT TO FORGET TO TELL THIS TO THE WHITE PEOPLE WHEN I MET THEM IN COUNCIL.”
KANEKUK - KICKAPOO PROPHET.
“THE LAND WAS PUT HERE FOR US BY THE GREAT SPIRIT AND WE CANNOT SELL IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT BELONG TO US. ONLY THE GREAT SPIRIT CAN COUNT THE GRAINS OF SAND AND THE BLADES OF GRASS ON THESE PLAINS.” UNKNOWN BLACKFOOT CHIEF
“FOR ONE MAN THE WORLD WAS FULL OF BEAUTY; FOR THE OTHER IT WAS A PLACE OF SIN AND UGLINESS TO BE ENDURED UNTIL HE WENT TO ANOTHER WORLD.” CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR – OGLALA SIOUX.
“BUT THE OLD LAKOTA WAS WISE. HE KNEW THAT MAN’S HEART, AWAY FROM NATURE, BECOMES HARD; HE KNEW THAT LACK OF RESPECT FOR GROWING, LIVING THINGS SOON LED TO LACK OF RESPECT FOR HUMANS, TOO.” CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR – OGLALA SIOUX.
“ALL THINGS ARE CONNECTED. WHATEVER BEFALLS THE EARTH BEFALLS THE CHILDREN OF EARTH.” CHIEF SEATTLE – SUQWAMISH
“NATURE WILL BE NATURE STILL, WHILE PALACES SHALL DECAY AND FALL IN RUINS.” GEORGE COPWAY – OJIBWE.
“I BELIEVE MUCH TROUBLE WOULD BE SAVED IF WE OPENED OUR HEARTS MORE. I WILL TELL YOU IN MY WAY HOW THE INDIAN SEES THINGS. THE WHITE MAN HAS MORE WORDS TO TELL YOU HOW THEY LOOK TO HIM, BUT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MANY WORDS TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.” CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE
“GIVE US ALL AN EVEN CHANCE TO LIVE AND GROW. ALL MEN WERE MADE BY THE SAME GREAT SPIRIT CHIEF. THEY ARE ALL BROTHERS. THE EARTH IS THE MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLE, AND ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS UPON IT. YOU MIGHT EXPECT ALL RIVERS TO RUN BACKWARD AS THAT ANY MAN WHO IS BORN A FREE MAN SHOULD BE CONTENTED PENNED UP AND DENIED LIBERTY TO GO WHERE HE PLEASES.” CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE
“WE WERE LIKE DEER. THEY WERE LIKE GRIZZLY BEARS. WE HAD A SMALL COUNTRY. THEIR COUNTRY WAS LARGE. WE WERE CONTENTED TO LET THINGS REMAIN AS THE GREAT SPIRIT MADE THEM. THEY WERE NOT; AND WOULD CHANGE THE MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS IF THEY DID NOT SUIT THEM.” CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE
“CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN THRUST UPON ME…. AND IT HAS NOT ADDED ONE WHIT TO MY LOVE FOR TRUTH, HONESTY AND GENEROSITY.” CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR – OGLALA SIOUX
“ALL WHO HAVE LIVED MUCH OUT OF DOORS, WHETHER INDIAN OR OTHERWISE, KNOW THERE IS MAGNETIC AND POWERFUL FORCE THAT ACCUMULATES IN SOLITUDE BUT IS QUICKLY DISSIPATED BY LIFE IN A CROWD. THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE, THE FIRST PEOPLE, HAS NEVER DIED. IT LIVES IN THE ROCKS AND THE FORESTS, THE RIVERS AND THE MOUNTAINS. IT MURMURS IN THE BROOKS AND WHISPERS IN THE TREES. THE HEARTS OF THESE PEOPLE WERE FORMED OF THE EARTH THAT WE NOW WALK ON, AND THEIR VOICE CAN NEVER BE SILENCED.” KENT NERBURN – AUTHOR
“WE MAY BE BROTHERS AFTER ALL. WE SHALL SEE.” CHIEF SEATTLE – 1853
YES, WE MAY BE BROTHERS AFTER ALL AND UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT, WE ARE FAR MORE SIMILAR THAN DIFFERENT; OUR DESTINY MAY BE BEYOND OUR CONTROL!
OUR REVIEW OF A FEW QUOTES FROM MEMBERS OF OUR NATIVE PEOPLE, HAS ONLY OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE. HOPEFULLY, IT HAS AWAKENED US TO THE REALIZATION OF THE WISDOM THEY HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF EMPIRICAL OBSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD. I AM CERTAIN THIS IS THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO BRING DOMINANT SOCIETY BACK IN BALANCE WITH NATURE.
WE MUST HAVE AN INDEPTH DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF OUR PLANET, EARTH. IT MUST INVOLVE THE SCIENTIFIC DATA WE HAVE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR NATURAL WORLD, THE ECO-ECONOMIST’S ASSESSMENTS OF WORLDWIDE DEMANDS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES, THE CENSES BUREAU’S PROJECTION OF WORLDWIDE POPULATION GROWTH AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, THE WISDOM OF OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ UNDERSTANDING OF LIVING IN BALANCE WITH OUR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS!
TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER PATH WILL JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE OF THE NEXT GENERATIONS. OUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON US. WE MAY BE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AFTER ALL! TIME WILL TELL!
I HAVE DEDICATED MUCH OF MY RETIREMENT YEARS ATTEMPTING TO REACH OUT AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE DEPENDENCE HUMANITY HAS ON THE NATURAL WORLD FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE. THE 34 YEARS I SPENT IN NUMEROUS ASSIGNMENTS, APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF FORESTRY, PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVE A MAJOR PART OF THE OF THE NATURAL WORLD. IT LEFT ME WITH CONCERNS AND A DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURAL PROCESSES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE HUMAN SPECIES. I STUDIED SCIENTIFIC BOOKS, JOURNALS AND PAPERS, RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY AND BIBLICAL REFERENCES, IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONS WE SHARE WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.
MY WIFE IS A MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, WHICH ENCOURAGED US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE LEARNED MUCH FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH NATIVE FRIENDS AND WRITTEN MATERIALS THAT PRESENT TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGES OF THEIR BELIEFS AND CULTURAL VALUES. THESE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND HAVE LEARNED THE NECESSITY OF LIVING IN BALANCE WITH NATURE. MOST OF US KNOW LITTLE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT, WHICH GENERALLY RESULTS IN BIASES, PREJUDICES AND DIVISION.
MY LIFE TIME OF EXPERIENCES, OBSERVATIONS, STUDIES AND ANALYSIS; HAVE LED ME TO A NUMBER OF BELIEFS THAT ARE PARAMOUNT IN EXTENDING FUTURE LIFE ON PLANET EARTH. MANY OF THESE INSIGHTS RESULTED FROM STUDYING OTHER ECO-FRIENDLIER CULTURES RELATIONSHIPS TO NATURE. I AM CONVINCED, IF WE ARE GOING TO ADJUST TO CREATE A DESIRABLE FUTURE, SIGNIFICANT CHANGE MUST OCCUR AND WE MUST JOIN HANDS WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK.
TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY, I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE WISDOM PRESENTED BY INDIGENOUS LEADERS OF THE PAST, WHOM WE LABELED SAVAGES. IF ONLY WE COULD ACCEPT AND APPLY THEIR TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGES! I ACCEPT THAT WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT AT WHAT EXPENSE? THE LAST 200 YEARS HAVE DESTROYED A LARGE PORTION OF THE NATURAL WORLD WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR LIFE ON EARTH. TO BEGIN WITH, WE MUST APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE VIEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EARTH AS OPPOSED TO HOW DOMINANT SOCIETY SEES EARTH. NATIVE PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES AS A SMALL PART OF THE EARTH COMMUNITY, WHERE DOMINANT SOCIETY SEE EARTH AS BELONGING TO US AND OUR DEVINE RIGHT TO DO WITH AS WE WANT. AFTER ALL THE BIBLE TELLS US TO TAKE DOMINION OVER THE PLANET AND ALL OTHER LIFE.
LET’S LISTEN TO A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM FROM PAST LEADERS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A BRIEF REVIEW, IF YOU LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART YOU MAY BEGIN TO SENSE AN APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATURAL WORLD WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ALL PEOPLE.
“THE INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS OF OUR CONTINENT WERE NOT ONE PEOPLE. THEIR CUSTOMS, LANGUAGES, HOUSING AND GOVERNING RULES WERE DIFFERENT. BUT THEY SHARED A COMMON BELIEF THAT THE EARTH IS A SPIRITUAL PRESENCE THAT MUST BE HONORED, NOT MASTERED, THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE HAS NEVER DIED. IT LIVES ON IN THE SPIRIT OF THE NATURAL WORLD.” KENT NERBURN - AUTHOR
“THE EARTH IS THE MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLE, AND ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS UPON IT.” CHIEF JOSEPH, 1879
“SELL THE COUNTRY! WHY NOT SELL THE AIR, THE CLOUDS AND THE GREAT SEA AS WELL AS THE EARTH? DID NOT THE GREAT SPIRIT MAKE THEM ALL FOR THE USE OF HIS CHILDREN?” TECUMSEH, SHAWNEE.
“THE GREAT SPIRIT TOLD ME THAT THE LAND BELONGED TO HIM, THAT NO PEOPLE OWN THE LAND; AND THAT I WAS NOT TO FORGET TO TELL THIS TO THE WHITE PEOPLE WHEN I MET THEM IN COUNCIL.”
KANEKUK - KICKAPOO PROPHET.
“THE LAND WAS PUT HERE FOR US BY THE GREAT SPIRIT AND WE CANNOT SELL IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT BELONG TO US. ONLY THE GREAT SPIRIT CAN COUNT THE GRAINS OF SAND AND THE BLADES OF GRASS ON THESE PLAINS.” UNKNOWN BLACKFOOT CHIEF
“FOR ONE MAN THE WORLD WAS FULL OF BEAUTY; FOR THE OTHER IT WAS A PLACE OF SIN AND UGLINESS TO BE ENDURED UNTIL HE WENT TO ANOTHER WORLD.” CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR – OGLALA SIOUX.
“BUT THE OLD LAKOTA WAS WISE. HE KNEW THAT MAN’S HEART, AWAY FROM NATURE, BECOMES HARD; HE KNEW THAT LACK OF RESPECT FOR GROWING, LIVING THINGS SOON LED TO LACK OF RESPECT FOR HUMANS, TOO.” CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR – OGLALA SIOUX.
“ALL THINGS ARE CONNECTED. WHATEVER BEFALLS THE EARTH BEFALLS THE CHILDREN OF EARTH.” CHIEF SEATTLE – SUQWAMISH
“NATURE WILL BE NATURE STILL, WHILE PALACES SHALL DECAY AND FALL IN RUINS.” GEORGE COPWAY – OJIBWE.
“I BELIEVE MUCH TROUBLE WOULD BE SAVED IF WE OPENED OUR HEARTS MORE. I WILL TELL YOU IN MY WAY HOW THE INDIAN SEES THINGS. THE WHITE MAN HAS MORE WORDS TO TELL YOU HOW THEY LOOK TO HIM, BUT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MANY WORDS TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.” CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE
“GIVE US ALL AN EVEN CHANCE TO LIVE AND GROW. ALL MEN WERE MADE BY THE SAME GREAT SPIRIT CHIEF. THEY ARE ALL BROTHERS. THE EARTH IS THE MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLE, AND ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS UPON IT. YOU MIGHT EXPECT ALL RIVERS TO RUN BACKWARD AS THAT ANY MAN WHO IS BORN A FREE MAN SHOULD BE CONTENTED PENNED UP AND DENIED LIBERTY TO GO WHERE HE PLEASES.” CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE
“WE WERE LIKE DEER. THEY WERE LIKE GRIZZLY BEARS. WE HAD A SMALL COUNTRY. THEIR COUNTRY WAS LARGE. WE WERE CONTENTED TO LET THINGS REMAIN AS THE GREAT SPIRIT MADE THEM. THEY WERE NOT; AND WOULD CHANGE THE MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS IF THEY DID NOT SUIT THEM.” CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE
“CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN THRUST UPON ME…. AND IT HAS NOT ADDED ONE WHIT TO MY LOVE FOR TRUTH, HONESTY AND GENEROSITY.” CHIEF LUTHER STANDING BEAR – OGLALA SIOUX
“ALL WHO HAVE LIVED MUCH OUT OF DOORS, WHETHER INDIAN OR OTHERWISE, KNOW THERE IS MAGNETIC AND POWERFUL FORCE THAT ACCUMULATES IN SOLITUDE BUT IS QUICKLY DISSIPATED BY LIFE IN A CROWD. THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE, THE FIRST PEOPLE, HAS NEVER DIED. IT LIVES IN THE ROCKS AND THE FORESTS, THE RIVERS AND THE MOUNTAINS. IT MURMURS IN THE BROOKS AND WHISPERS IN THE TREES. THE HEARTS OF THESE PEOPLE WERE FORMED OF THE EARTH THAT WE NOW WALK ON, AND THEIR VOICE CAN NEVER BE SILENCED.” KENT NERBURN – AUTHOR
“WE MAY BE BROTHERS AFTER ALL. WE SHALL SEE.” CHIEF SEATTLE – 1853
YES, WE MAY BE BROTHERS AFTER ALL AND UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT, WE ARE FAR MORE SIMILAR THAN DIFFERENT; OUR DESTINY MAY BE BEYOND OUR CONTROL!
OUR REVIEW OF A FEW QUOTES FROM MEMBERS OF OUR NATIVE PEOPLE, HAS ONLY OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE. HOPEFULLY, IT HAS AWAKENED US TO THE REALIZATION OF THE WISDOM THEY HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF EMPIRICAL OBSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD. I AM CERTAIN THIS IS THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO BRING DOMINANT SOCIETY BACK IN BALANCE WITH NATURE.
WE MUST HAVE AN INDEPTH DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF OUR PLANET, EARTH. IT MUST INVOLVE THE SCIENTIFIC DATA WE HAVE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR NATURAL WORLD, THE ECO-ECONOMIST’S ASSESSMENTS OF WORLDWIDE DEMANDS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES, THE CENSES BUREAU’S PROJECTION OF WORLDWIDE POPULATION GROWTH AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, THE WISDOM OF OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ UNDERSTANDING OF LIVING IN BALANCE WITH OUR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS!
TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER PATH WILL JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE OF THE NEXT GENERATIONS. OUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON US. WE MAY BE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AFTER ALL! TIME WILL TELL!
