Rebecca, you have become my go to news reel! I read more sense and more importance into environmental issues and our fast dying species in relation to politics in these updates than any other news feed. I wish you could write one for France also...Thank you. 💚
Wow, Rebecca. Thank you for keeping us informed on these things. Really great work. I'm personally hoping we can find common ground, no pun intended, with local Republicans on these land issues. It's tricky, because there are so many social issues on which the divide is pretty wide. But I think natural beings and places, being neither red or blue, R or D, can be seen as a bridge between us. And yes, indigenous people can speak for this bridge as no one else.
Agreed. That's definitely a set of voices that I hope our society will hear more and more from, because I think they will take this country in the right direction. And if you see this comment, shoot me an email with your mailing address! You were the random winner of the book giveaway so I want to drop that in the mail for you. :) rebeccawisent@gmail.com
Thank you so much for this vital work, Rebecca! Echoing others -- this is far more important news than any I might find on national media outlets' headlines (though it *should* be there, too).
Another important set of updates. Your work on this series is soooo appreciated!
I'm definitely familiar with the critiques of the idea of "wilderness" and agree with most of them, but I do also value the Wilderness Act. I think it's best to think of it as a starting point, though, rather than the finish line. That is, it's truly great that it has set aside so many places from destructive human activities, but I think the next step is to amend it to allow traditional indigenous tending practices, since they were absolutely central to making these ecosystems what they were in the first place. I know you know what I'm talking about, but I wanted to register the thought here in the comments for other readers.
For sure, and I'm really encouraged by the movement toward managing the tribal national monuments with the tribes, not just for them. It's all pretty new, so we'll see where that goes. And on the wilderness issue, I like your framing of wilderness as a starting point ... hopefully we can figure out a way to include traditional, non-industrial tribal management there without weakening the Act and opening the door to extractive interests ... that's the risk, but I think with some careful work, it could be done.
Great comments here, so now a not so great one. I wrote only half humorously to Jonathan over at the Land Desk, the following rant cum diatribe:
"I'm an extremist in western land use matters. Frankly, if I had unlimited authoritarian power I'd
1. Stop all human management of the Colorado and let both basins shift for themselves
2. Stop all leasing for mining and extractive enterprises between the west slope Rockies and the east slope Sierra/Cascades. Ditto all livestock public lands grazing. Immediately stop issuing permits.
3. Within the geographic boundaries mentioned above, declare the whole region a national wilderness roadless area and allow no entry or travel save by foot or unpowered bicycles!!
4. Confiscate or nationalize all private non-farming landholdings over 500 acres. Use eminent domain, etc.
In other words, force us to stop messing with things! Get the multimillionaires and billionaires out. Stop selling off the West! Vote for me! 😉"
Having been intimately connected with the leadership of a small, fairly impoverished tribe, I am definitely pro-indigenous and would have no problem ceding control of the western public lands to the tribes but at the same time have no illusions that that wouldn't create some internal conflicts for the tribes as the cultural elements and the commercial elements wouldn't necessarily see eye to eye with how to manage that stewardship. They might well end up wrestling with the identical questions that vex the nation as a whole now.
Re: whether tribes would come to deal with some of the issues that vex the nation as a whole now, I think many are already dealing with that. I like how you framed it as cultural versus commercial elements. These kinds of conflicts come up in the PNW a lot, as I know you know, particularly in relation to how tribes manage wolves and timber. I'll be watching to see how some of that shakes out in the next years/decades. It'll also be interesting to see how the federal/tribal management balance works in some of these newer national monuments.
In the tribe I was associated with there was a Business Council and a Chiefs Council, so-titled. The financial operations of the tribe were overseen by the former and the more cultural affairs by the latter. Generally, the relations of the tribe to the external matrix of the indigenous world were directed by the BC. The CC's focus was directed inward, though it generally provided strategic advice to the other Council. Of course the situation was made very complex by family relations, intermarriages with non-indigenous people, personal friendships and rivalries- the usual witches brew of cross currents. All of the above info is to the best of my recollection of arrangements now almost forty years in the past.
The Blake Plateau looks like an incredible place, doesn’t it?? It was new to me too. Seems like it was pretty new to science, too actually. I can’t wrap my head around how many discoveries are still to be made on this planet.
My heart threatens to bounce up into my throat when I think about the "great gusto to open up as much public land as possible to logging, mining, and drilling" that is coming at us like a hurricane. My efforts to make space for native plants, animals, and birds on my few acres in Iowa is a leaf in that wind. But it is a leaf I turn every day nonetheless, if only to show respect for what is being destroyed.
Yes, Diane, I know this feeling. I only have a quarter-acre, but tend it for native beings as best I can and hope for a bigger piece someday, too. At least that is within our power … and more and more individuals are doing the same, I think.
Yes. How wise the tribe’s view…🌱🌿💚
Thank you, Rebecca. I really appreciate learning about these last-minute efforts to establish some more sanely-managed pieces of the land.
Mainly, though, I want to say that you're doing an amazing (and necessary) job with these daily postings. I marvel at the work you're putting in.
Thank you!! Back at you! How you maintain the exceedingly high level of quality thinking and writing you do, every single week, is beyond me.
This was a thorough, deep dive. Will need to read a few more times. The Blake Plateau has been on my radar for awhile. Thank you! Signed all three.
Cool! I am just learning about the Blake, and it seems like an incredible place. I am glad you are keeping it in your heart.
Wide ranging, thorough, and so important. Thank you, Rebecca.
Rebecca, you have become my go to news reel! I read more sense and more importance into environmental issues and our fast dying species in relation to politics in these updates than any other news feed. I wish you could write one for France also...Thank you. 💚
I am trying to learn French but it is slow going. Maybe I’ll get there someday!
I wish you luck Rebecca, French is horribly complicated - I’m not fluent even after 20 years of working in schools!
Wow, Rebecca. Thank you for keeping us informed on these things. Really great work. I'm personally hoping we can find common ground, no pun intended, with local Republicans on these land issues. It's tricky, because there are so many social issues on which the divide is pretty wide. But I think natural beings and places, being neither red or blue, R or D, can be seen as a bridge between us. And yes, indigenous people can speak for this bridge as no one else.
Agreed. That's definitely a set of voices that I hope our society will hear more and more from, because I think they will take this country in the right direction. And if you see this comment, shoot me an email with your mailing address! You were the random winner of the book giveaway so I want to drop that in the mail for you. :) rebeccawisent@gmail.com
Thank you so much for this vital work, Rebecca! Echoing others -- this is far more important news than any I might find on national media outlets' headlines (though it *should* be there, too).
So happy to do it, Antonia. And thank you. 💚
Another important set of updates. Your work on this series is soooo appreciated!
I'm definitely familiar with the critiques of the idea of "wilderness" and agree with most of them, but I do also value the Wilderness Act. I think it's best to think of it as a starting point, though, rather than the finish line. That is, it's truly great that it has set aside so many places from destructive human activities, but I think the next step is to amend it to allow traditional indigenous tending practices, since they were absolutely central to making these ecosystems what they were in the first place. I know you know what I'm talking about, but I wanted to register the thought here in the comments for other readers.
For sure, and I'm really encouraged by the movement toward managing the tribal national monuments with the tribes, not just for them. It's all pretty new, so we'll see where that goes. And on the wilderness issue, I like your framing of wilderness as a starting point ... hopefully we can figure out a way to include traditional, non-industrial tribal management there without weakening the Act and opening the door to extractive interests ... that's the risk, but I think with some careful work, it could be done.
Great comments here, so now a not so great one. I wrote only half humorously to Jonathan over at the Land Desk, the following rant cum diatribe:
"I'm an extremist in western land use matters. Frankly, if I had unlimited authoritarian power I'd
1. Stop all human management of the Colorado and let both basins shift for themselves
2. Stop all leasing for mining and extractive enterprises between the west slope Rockies and the east slope Sierra/Cascades. Ditto all livestock public lands grazing. Immediately stop issuing permits.
3. Within the geographic boundaries mentioned above, declare the whole region a national wilderness roadless area and allow no entry or travel save by foot or unpowered bicycles!!
4. Confiscate or nationalize all private non-farming landholdings over 500 acres. Use eminent domain, etc.
In other words, force us to stop messing with things! Get the multimillionaires and billionaires out. Stop selling off the West! Vote for me! 😉"
Having been intimately connected with the leadership of a small, fairly impoverished tribe, I am definitely pro-indigenous and would have no problem ceding control of the western public lands to the tribes but at the same time have no illusions that that wouldn't create some internal conflicts for the tribes as the cultural elements and the commercial elements wouldn't necessarily see eye to eye with how to manage that stewardship. They might well end up wrestling with the identical questions that vex the nation as a whole now.
Oh, now my brain hurts.
My work here is done! That's my job- making people's brains hurt!
Michael, I'd vote for you!
Re: whether tribes would come to deal with some of the issues that vex the nation as a whole now, I think many are already dealing with that. I like how you framed it as cultural versus commercial elements. These kinds of conflicts come up in the PNW a lot, as I know you know, particularly in relation to how tribes manage wolves and timber. I'll be watching to see how some of that shakes out in the next years/decades. It'll also be interesting to see how the federal/tribal management balance works in some of these newer national monuments.
In the tribe I was associated with there was a Business Council and a Chiefs Council, so-titled. The financial operations of the tribe were overseen by the former and the more cultural affairs by the latter. Generally, the relations of the tribe to the external matrix of the indigenous world were directed by the BC. The CC's focus was directed inward, though it generally provided strategic advice to the other Council. Of course the situation was made very complex by family relations, intermarriages with non-indigenous people, personal friendships and rivalries- the usual witches brew of cross currents. All of the above info is to the best of my recollection of arrangements now almost forty years in the past.
typo above. Should be "..external matrix of the non-indigenous world.."
I had never heard of the Blake Plateau before! Fascinating!
And thank you very much for the Sage Grouse update. This is an issue of special interest to me.
The Blake Plateau looks like an incredible place, doesn’t it?? It was new to me too. Seems like it was pretty new to science, too actually. I can’t wrap my head around how many discoveries are still to be made on this planet.
The end goal of the so-called "environmental" movement is to lock up ALL land, putting it forever off-limits for any productive use whatever.
My heart threatens to bounce up into my throat when I think about the "great gusto to open up as much public land as possible to logging, mining, and drilling" that is coming at us like a hurricane. My efforts to make space for native plants, animals, and birds on my few acres in Iowa is a leaf in that wind. But it is a leaf I turn every day nonetheless, if only to show respect for what is being destroyed.
Yes, Diane, I know this feeling. I only have a quarter-acre, but tend it for native beings as best I can and hope for a bigger piece someday, too. At least that is within our power … and more and more individuals are doing the same, I think.
So glad to have found your Substack. This is the content I crave!
Hooray! Glad you found it. :)
Signed and will share! Thank you Rebecca 💚