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Reflections
on the Tribal Road to Environmental Protection
By
Pearl Capoeman-Baller
When
tribal leaders think about the environment, we call upon the
wisdom of our ancestors and recall the lessons our Elders have
passed on to us. We rely upon these precious gifts as we draw
upon our own knowledge and experiences to shape our vision
of the environment which we hope to preserve for the seventh
generation to follow.
We
understand that lessons and sentiment alone will not be enough
to transform our vision into reality. Perseverance, commitment
and action are needed. When we encounter images—sometimes shocking
ones of ecological disasters or resource mismanagement—we react
with dismay. That emotion is a motivating factor to get us
involved, to act to prevent those images from materializing
in ways that harm the lands and people we care about.
It
takes passion and commitment to sustain our spirit. And it
takes tools to help us to take on and win the battles that
must be fought every day to protect our heritage and our legacy.
We must search for tools that enable us to be effective advocates
for things that will make a difference—things that will improve
our lives as Indian people and prospects for continued survival
of our cultures.
With
over 31 years of service on the Quinault Business Committee,
I've come to appreciate how important it is to have people
around me who understand the complex technical issues we face
as tribal governments and who can help me educate others. I've
served as both chair of the Northwest Portland Area Indian
Health Board (and on the National Indian Health Board) and
as chair of the National Tribal Environmental Council. As chairperson,
I have often found myself in a room discussing issues that
few other tribal leaders are willing or able to evaluate. I
constantly ask other tribal leaders to participate and give
their leadership to advocating our health and environmental
issues. But often I'm told that the issues are too technical
and that their staff can't handle them. Indian Country needs
both the political advocacy and the technical capacity if we
are going to survive.
In my last year as the chair of the National Tribal Environmental
Council, we launched an initiative called "The Tribal Road
to Environmental Protection." It is an initiative that commits
us to develop ways to increase our capacity to shape the policies
that will guide the administration, the congress, the courts
and the international community. In its mature form, we envision
that this initiative will inspire and mobilize the next generation
of tribal scientists, lawyers, doctors and entrepreneurs to
dedicate themselves to strengthening the tribal governmental
capability to protect and preserve the environment and forge
the tools that they can wield to favorably influence public
policy.
And while we are mobilizing to increase our effectiveness
in the policy arena, we must ensure that our actions remain
true to our visions and the values we hold dear. I am convinced
that our path to healthy, productive communities and environments
must be guided by the Creator. I am blessed by the trust my
people have placed in me as a tribal leader. I find comfort
in my roots, the wisdom of our ancestors and the reverence
for all things as taught by the Creator—even an abandoned car,
a barking dog, or a plastic bag blowing in the wind. Everywhere
I look, I see sacredness. Everywhere I walk, the spirit of
the Creator guides my every step. May the Creator be beside
you as well on your path to the future.
Pearl
Capoeman-Baller is president of the Quinault Indian Nation.
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