THIS ENTRY WAS WRITTEN BY ROBERTO NUTLOUIS:
This summit is an important event because we (Human) have realized the enormous negative impact we have had on our environment. World leaders have recognizes that we only hurt ourselves in the end. The losses of human lives and other living beings are mounting and there seems to be no sign that it would end without governmental intervention.
Indigenous peoples believe that the earth is a living entity and must be respected. Humanity has moved away from this type of mindset to where the land is now viewed as a resource that must be exploited. The elders have said that if it should ever come where human kind begins to create technology that is destructive to our mother her wrath would be unleashed. The wrath of our mother is just now beginning to be revealed through the natural disasters that are occurring.
In the traditional oral stories, coyote or trickster is always present so that progress will not be achieved. At this important event, it is only right to say that United States is the trickster. It is sickening to know this because this is where one of the most severe environmental degradation begins. Climate change is happening and it will affect the entire world. US plays a huge role and responsibility to address it but will sad to say, it will not. It only wants to protect its greed by ensuring that the corporate world continues to plunder the land.
According to the oral traditions of our elders, mankind has to enter a new world to restore balance. I believe that we are entering a new world although the trickster is present to block progress. The youth are here to make sure that the world leaders know that we are concerned about our future. We love our land and we want to keep it that way it was intended to be. Many groups are present here and they are all doing their part at a local level to ensure that sustainable way of living is achieved. A new way of thinking about our land is beginning. Respect and honor to all creation has begun. It the leaders cannot agree on words, the youth will agree in action. We are entering a new world and it will come on its own time. The fulfillment of the “Seventh Generation” prophecy is happening. The youth are rising.
Roberto Nutlouis (Navajo)
I am sad to hear that the U.S. is not participating at all. I wish we would be represented, but our president doesn't care. Hopefully the youth will prevail!
Posted by: Adam on September 2, 2002 05:14 AM