Eli Enns A
t the heart of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, a new model of tribal parks is emerging as a global leader in socio-ecological resiliency.
While recovering from the brink of extinction and simultaneously
adapting their age-old ecological governance system to a series of ag- gressive foreign influences, the Tla-o-qui-aht (a First Nations people and government whose territory surrounds Canada’s proposed Pacific Rim National Park reserve on Vancouver Island) have conceived an Indigenous watershed management methodology that marries the old with the new to form sustainable livelihoods that promote environ- mental security. The keystone is a fundamentally different conception of humanity; it orients individuals within a rich social contract that extends ideas of justice to the environment. The Nuu-chah-nulth-aht (people along the mountain and the sea)
express this concept in our definition of humanity, or Quu-us – mean- ing “real live human being.” Real, as opposed to imagined or dreamt. Live, as opposed to deceased or unborn. And human being, as distin- guished from any other being on Earth. As Quu-us we have access to a full range of emotional language that educates us about ourselves, and our environments. No matter what we are feeling it is okay to feel that way provided we don’t become fixated. As Quu-us we are a link be- tween our ancestors and descendants, forming circles in time. As links we have a responsibility to manage our natural inheritance with care in consideration of our future generations. Our natural inheritance includes an interconnection of everything from the air, water, cedar and salmon to names, language, songs and even our own natural selves. This conception of humanity forms the basis of a cultural logic for
inter-generational accountability. A little over 100 years ago, on May 15, 1914, the Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for the Province of Brit- ish Columbia met with Tla-o-qui-aht hereditary chiefs on Meares Is- land. The chiefs demonstrated this mentality in the following passages: Said Chief Joseph, “Now listen, gentlemen. I am going to tell you
what I think – what is in my heart. I am very glad to see you gentlemen here...I am of a good heart to see you here and I am feeling pretty high myself about you coming to see me. I am the Chief here. I am going to tell you what I have in my mind... I have 221 Indians and this place is too small...When there is another generation of people, three hundred [ CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 ]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 15
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