Protecting the Sacred. Reclaiming the Power

International Indigenous Leadership Gathering 2012

by Doug Pyper

 

The message of ‘protecting the sacred’ here on mother earth was again the official mantra at the 4^th Annual International Indigenous Leadership Gathering in Lillooet, BC. And with the ominous predictions of 2012 now looming on the horizon there seemed a subliminal sense of urgency in the air.

Dance and Drumming in the Arbour

The event was held June 21-24 hosted by the Sta’at’imc Chiefs Council representing 11 first nations communities in the territory. Over a thousand people from near and far attended, creating a communal village of like minded people of all origins inhabiting an open meadow near the town of Lillooet. Everyone enjoyed the presentations of world renowned speakers and performers from across Turtle Island and South America. As in the past, the event was made possible entirely through the tireless work of volunteers, including both local organizers and attendees. All food was provided free, prepared and served on site as a gift from the nation.

The flow of messages was clear and consistent. We must save mother earth now and renew our spiritual connection with each other and all living things if we are to endure. We are living in a time of irreversible and catastrophic global destruction. Seemingly our planet can no longer take the abuse that modern humankind has relentlessly inflicted upon her. The 2012 scenario offers varied predictions, the most universal being that we are at the end of a great cycle, a 500 year long spiritual winter. A massive painful transformation is coming, and those who are prepared will move onward into a spiritual spring time.

Many of the eclectic mix of speakers this year were more noticeably aligned with mainstream culture, addressing environmental concerns from a scientific and even political perspective. Issues of global warming and loss of biological diversity were paramount, but often transcended the traditional indigenous spiritual vernacular. The frequent direct reference to politics was perhaps an indication that many feel the planet is under siege from corporate controlled global governments, most notably here in Canada under Stephen Harper.

But the inherent message was we are ‘all’ indigenous, and the truth is the truth no matter how it is wrapped. This earth is not for our material gain, it is our responsibility to revere, nurture and sustain it for future generations.

Among the numerous scheduled speakers was the Honourable Stephen Point, the current and only Indigenous Lieutenant Governor in BC history. In his impassioned speech, often tempered with his characteristic humour, he implied the needed change lies within each of us, by discovering our spirituality and overcoming our self-imposed fear and ignorance.

“I believe that our world is coming around to the understanding that we need change” he said.  “In gatherings like this, where people are focused on the spiritual world is how that change begins. Each of us must learn from the many lessons offered to us daily, and apply those lessons in our lives.  This is necessary for growth and to bring about change within ourselves and our world.”

MaObong Oku, a Nigerian spiritual healer, humanitarian and performing artist currently living in Vancouver gave a gentle and inspirational talk. “Mother earth is the source of our existence. Indigenous people are the guardians of the earth. We must strive to keep our hearts clean. The creator can then work through us and guide us”. She warned “Most problems are with the mind. It is often a source of negativity and the sole cause of all our troubles in the world today. When we have good thoughts we manifest a beautiful and peaceful earth. We must be vigilant to keep our thoughts pure through daily practice.”  

Herbert Hammond, a Forest Ecologist from the Slocan Valley in southern BC was one of the non-indigenous speakers at the event. Among a myriad of other accomplishments he has worked extensively with first nations developing eco-system based conservation plans. He believes we have given up much of our power to bring about change in the modern age.

Herb Hammond

“We elect governments believing they will take care of us and solve all our problems. In reality they are often not acting in our interest at all. Similarly, we’ve become dependent on large environmental organizations to protect our biological and physical world. These organizations often have become well paid environmental bureaucracies whose goal is to create a political compromise. In both cases, we do not get the results and changes we need, since the systems are designed for proliferation of the status quo” he stated.

“We can survive 3 to 8 minutes without oxygen, without water for 8 to 14 days and without food for up to 4 weeks” he noted.  “In one year a large tree provides enough oxygen for two people and pumps several hundred gallons of water into the ecosystem. However, we ignore these benefits of healthy ecosystems in pursuit of short term monetary profit that degrade and destroy the natural integrity of our home” he said. 

He went on to explain that our current world view is based on an 'Anthropocentric' ethic. "This ethic holds that ecosystems have little value until they provide resources for monetary profit.  It teaches that the earth was created exclusively for human benefit" he said. "It promotes the necessity of a corporate consumer-based economy to prosper and relies on perpetual economic growth by creating 'artificial needs'. We are pillaging our life support system in this pursuit. Such an approach is clearly not sustainable".

A more appropriate ethic is a Kincentric approach which respects the earth and other living things. What we do to the earth we do to ourselves. "This world view sees us as related to all other life forms. With this understanding we have the responsibility to protect all life forms, while using some of them wisely for our needs." he stated.  

These words perfectly echo what the indigenous elders have taught for centuries through spiritual beliefs, making his thoughts very appropriate and meaningful for the Gathering.



Peace and Dignity Runners from Mexico.

His solution to our current global crisis and devastation our planet is ecosystem-based conservation plans that facilitate sustainable 'community-based economies' around the world. We must become involved on a grass roots community level (whether rural or urban), taking back our power in dignified yet firm ways, while educating each other. We must regress back to a simpler way of living. And we must do so with or without permission and support from our elected governments.

Our future is the responsibility of each and everyone of us. It is time to begin.

 

 

Hoofs and Heroes

Skijoring Comes to the Kootenays
By Doug Pyper

A recent 'Skijoring' event in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia may well have set in motion a new local tradition.

When Diane Kinrade, Program Director for The West Kootenay Therapeutic Riding Association, began brainstorming ideas for a fundraiser it almost seemed like a no brainer.

“I’d been a ski patrol for 15 years, and have been equestrian riding and instructing for 35 years. And I knew all about Skijoring, because I’m Norwegian and the sport originated in my homeland” she says.

What she didn’t realize was this would be the first recorded organized competition of its kind in western Canada.

Equestrian Skijoring is a variation of the canine powered sport, which is widespread in our country, especially as part of regional sled dog competitions. But one must cross the border to places like Montana and Colorado, where ranches and ski resorts share a common turf, to experience the hoofed version of the activity. With few exceptions Skijoring as a competitive sport in Canada has involved dogs, not horses. One such exception is the recently sanctioned NASJA races that began just two years ago at the Quebec Winter Carnival.

The use of horses adds more speed and excitement to the sport. Competitors use downhill skis and snowboards as opposed to Nordic skis used in canine events. And jump ramps, navigating through cones and speed are definitely part of the mix. This high energy contest is geared for those with plenty of fitness and skill mixed with a good measure of madness.




One might question why horse drawn Skijoring didn’t find a home here in the Kootenays years ago. It seems a perfect match. With a well spring of local riders and horses and an indigenous culture of adrenalin driven skiers and snowboarders that hang at Whitewater and Red Mountain Ski Resorts, it should have naturally evolved over time.


Well, it’s here to stay now as of March 11/2012. Plans are already in motion to make this an annual event in Nelson, BC. The Nelson Riding Club arena will be expanded next season to make the existing course longer and lines will be cast to draw competitors from a larger area. Hopes are high to bring the local ski resorts on board as marketing partners.

This inaugural event was rather small and intimate with mostly local entries. And first place honours went to snowboarder Josh Ross (21) pulled by Katarina Burkhardt (18) riding a Palomino quarter horse named 'Latte'. This should spur some friendly rivalry next year from all those on skis!

The WKTRA is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 whose purpose is to help challenged individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Diane Kinrade, who is also a registered nurse, explains “We offer a physical rehabilitation program, a mental health therapy program and a sport recreation program. We put people in the saddle and give them a program to help meet the challenges in their life”.

The fundraising from this event will help, over the years, to fulfill a dream of building an indoor riding arena for the WKTRA. Donations to the cause are welcomed at http://www.kootenayridingtherapy.org/

View 40 more images of this very special event here:http://dougpyper.photoshelter.com/gallery/Skijoring-Nelson-BC/G0000aPYm9anUnOM/

The Lesson of Bolivia

Travelling through South America for seven months last year really opened my eyes to the true meaning of the words “developing nation”. I had always thought it meant a country on its way to prosperity because the global economy had finally arrived and was the sole solution to all their former woes. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

That promotes the idea that a high material standard of living and rampant consumerism is the ultimate goal of any society. And I now understand that the mere presence of consumer-based corporations within any country, in no way reduces poverty nor addresses any real social needs. Indeed it creates a myriad of other problems, most notably 'out of control' pollution from plastic packaging (i.e garbage).

Cholitas sell anything they can on the streets of La Paz. Bolivia is the poorest (and highest) country in the western Hemisphere. Copyright Doug Pyper

Mega-corporations like Coca Cola and Nestle are strangling our planet with packaged consumer goods and are now making these products available to the poorest of the poor in South America at prices they can afford. These corporations in no way provide any subsistence or a better quality of life for the common people...unless you consider an impoverished vendor selling Coke in a bus terminal or by roadside in the middle of nowhere as meaningful employment.

Indigenous roadside vendor selling plastic east of La Paz, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

In developed countries we've become experts at hiding this petrochemical disaster in our land fills and to some extent with recycling programs. However, these so-called solutions are all but non-existent in South America especially in rural areas, small towns and the fringes of large cities. These people have existed for centuries (albeit with great hardship) on biodegradable natural foods and livestock. They could throw their garbage on the ground and it would go away. It is no longer so, and they are now being buried in their own plastic refuge…with no apparent solution.

It was disheartening to travel throughout Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia and witness this corporate born disaster. Garbage is everywhere! What’s worse is, whenever possible it is discarded into the few watersheds that do exist. Seems as humans we all harbour an inborn misconception that if you put something in any form of flowing water it will go away. In very dry countries like Bolivia this is nothing short of catastrophic. Western Bolivia is mostly high dry desert known as the "Altiplano". At 4000 meters above sea level there is little water at all.

The garbage landscape across rural Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Fortunately it seems there is a growing awareness of the issue. It was heartwarming and inspirational to witness an “Environment Day” in the tiny village of Samaipata in eastern Bolivia. Children and educators filled the small central square to celebrate the salvation of our the planet. One would suspect that this type of education is prevalent in Bolivia, if it exists in such a remote location as this. But more importantly, it begs the question…how much are we doing to educate our own children on issues of global survival and environmental issues here in North America.

Additional photos here: http://dougpyper.photoshelter.com/gallery/Samaipata-Bolivia/G0000H50KL4nU6fk


Poster at children's environment event in Samaipata, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Child at environmental awareness day in Samipata, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Children with their artwork at environmental awareness day in Samaipata, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Respected Nigerian author Ben Okri wrote: “Childhood is the father and mother of humanity. If you want to understand a nation study the way it treats its children, the way it educates them, the way it moulds them”.

And with regard to life in so-called developed nations Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano penned “Almost everywhere growing up has come to mark the start of a deadly race to consume at all costs. It often begins nearer to infancy than it should and for the most part it means submitting to the dismal regulation of joyless work”

Perhaps we should all rethink our often arrogant life view. The people in the countries I visited with few exceptions were full of joy despite their hardships….something I see much less of in my own country Canada. It was a personal wakening for me.

Recently Bolivia is taking a leading role on environmental issues in South America and on the world stage. As one of the foremost victims of climate change it is essential to their survival.

They are in the process of passing La Ley De la Madre Tierra (The Law of Mother Earth), which would give nature similar rights as those granted to human beings. And in July 2010 a resolution was brought forth by Bolivia to the UN General Assembly declaring access to clean drinking water and sanitation a human right. It was was unanimously passed with 122 countries voting in favour. Canada represented by Stephen Harper refused to sign this declaration. All Canadians should be made aware of this travesty in our name.

And perhaps globally we can all learn a lesson from Boliva's model and follow their ideologies for continued existence here in the fragile hands of mother earth.

The Final Fight for Jumbo Wild is Now!

Copyright Doug Pyper

For over twenty years the people of the Kootenays have fought diligently in opposition to the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort...and for good reason. In reality it is merely a real estate development based on building a ski resort and resort municipality on a shrinking glacier in the pristine wilderness of the Purcell Mountains for the internationally wealthy.

Countless studies and public opinion polls have shown over and over again that this proposal is not viable environmentally or economically for our region. Yet it seems there are powers and a current provincial government agenda that want to move this project forward nonetheless.

After twenty long years of opposition by people of this region, some recently elected MLA by the name of Steve Thomson (Minister of Natural Resource Operations) from Kelowna, will soon make the final and sole decision on this contentious issue. He was elected in 2009 and immediately appointed as Minister (his background...long time orchard owner and recent president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce)...to quote a common phrase "no experience or knowledge necessary." How totally bazaar and ridiculously undemocratic!

Given the overall climate toward selling out our resources and our natural heritage by the current government there is little question what his decision will be.

I hope the 'white shirt and tie' from Kelowna' and his BC LIEberal government are prepared to meet head on with the people of the Kootenays. It'll be a war in the mountains for sure and it's best they understand the dedication, beliefs and willingness to battle oppression that is, and always has been, the nature of Kootenay people.

I would like to include two wonderful videos here.

The first by my friend and filmmaker Kevin Shepit from Kimberley, BC (and amazing documentary) and another by Miriam Needoba (Small Town Films, Nelson BC) who documented the recent Jumbo Wild Rally in Nelson.

If you need a refresher on the whole issue these two video productions combined will provide it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHn0YRke7Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lCZ0-hfNA

Send emails with your concerns and comments to: steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca

Keep Jumbo Wild !!!