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Climate Change: How About Planting A Tree?

It was good to see so much media coverage the last week of September around climate change. Much of it was about Greta Thunburg, the 16-year-old from Sweden, whose outspokenness lead to millions, (many of them young), demonstrating around the world.

It was also good to see some Canadian young people – particularly Indigenous young people – playing a prominent role. They have been active for many years.

Of particular note is Autumn Peltier, a 15-year-old member of the Wiikwemikong First Nation from Manitoulin Island, who has played an important role in clean water for Indigenous Peoples for some time.  In fact, she addressed the U.N. in December 2016.

Seeing Indigenous Young people coming to the forefront on the environment though is not a surprise. The Indigenous Peoples have a love and spiritual attachment to the land  which few others understand. This love is, in part,  because they believe life revolves around Mother Earth and it is essential and a moral duty for everyone to look after her.

Many non-Indigenous Peoples celebrate once a year, reflecting on things to be thankful for.  In contrast, many Indigenous Peoples say thank you more often.  In fact, many  Indigenous ceremonies and events are opened with a prayer of Thanksgiving for Mother Earth.

These prayers as outlined in a Haudenosaunee booklet called, “Thanksgiving Address Greetings to the Natural World,” have roots dating back over 1000 years. While the speaker chooses their own words, the speaker gives thanks for THE PEOPLE who are given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things, The EARTH MOTHER who gives us all we need in life and cares for us, The WATERS who quench our thirst and provide us with strength, The FISH who give us food and cleanse our waters. The PLANTS who sustain life and help people survive, The Medicine HERBS who take away sickness, the ANIMALS who teach us many things, the TREES who provide shelter, shade, fruit, beauty and for some, a symbol of peace and strength, BIRDS for their songs and reminding us to appreciate life, the FOUR WINDS who bring the change of seasons, refresh us and purify the air, the THUNDERERS who bring waters that renew life, the SUN who brings light and the source of the fires of life, the MOON, the leader of women all over the world, governs the oceans and lights the evening sky, the STARS who bring dew to the gardens and help guide us home at night, the TEACHERS who remind us how to live in harmony and the CREATOR for all the gifts of creation and everything we need to live a good life.   SIMPLE, POWERFUL and PROFOUND. These constant reminders of the earth underlie their view of the world.  I think you will agree, with this reminder, it is no wonder these young Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of the drive to get the politicians and others to do something concrete to combat climate change .

These demonstrations, however, will result in nothing, unless action is taken – not only by politicians – (though a lot is needed from them), but by each of us. We all need  to be good stewards of the earth.

Many people say, “What can I do that will make a difference?” There are many things we can do, ranging from cutting down on automobile use, to the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle.  One that has recently caught my attention is for each and every one of us to plant a tree.  One tree will absorb 48 pounds of Co2 every year. Over 40 years, that is one ton. If you do it every year, that would amount to more than 20 tons. That’s a lot of Co2.

Better still, what if you convinced one person every year to do the same, and they convinced one person to do the same.  Now we are talking!!

‘If Greta can mobilize young people around the world to speak out, could you plant a tree  and convince one other person to do the same? If you do not have land on which to plant, ask a friend or donate to a group that does. The Highway of Heroes, for one, are planting trees along Hwy 401 in honour of Canada’s veterans. This will not solve climate change, but it will be a positive thing most of us can do to  make an impact.

 miigwetch thank you

 Til next time,

 Chris Snyder

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