I am sure that environmentalists and environmentally conscious individuals ponder what has been accomplished since the beginning of the movement in the U.S. There have been many notable successes, and yet things seem to be getting worse. And, of course, much traction was lost during this U.S. presidency as laws were rolled back or changed. It is time to do some serious introspection and cold assessment of the strategies that have been used, otherwise, I believe, we will continue to experience pendulum swings of public support for environmental causes.

Collectively, I believe, everyone concerned about environmental issues such as global climate change, global warming, deforestation, and pollution, need short term and very long term strategies. There are many reasons why indigenous peoples all over the world survived and thrived over millennia. One of these reasons is acting in ways that seriously takes into account coming generations, or seven generations as many Native Americans talk about. But to do this requires a change of consciousness from being the “I/me” generations to the “we/us” generation. I must choose to take responsibility for what the world will be like seven generations from now, or a hundred years at least. This requires unselfishness, compassion, discipline, and wisdom that sees the “bigger picture” as well as the smaller ones.

Elders say that when we choose to blame another, we come from a place of blame within ourselves… “nothing is created outside until it is created inside first”. It is an “I” perspective. “I have been harmed”, “I want for others to do this”, “I am right and you are wrong”, “ I know and understand more than you do”. We become attached to the dualistic thinking of right and wrong. Environmentalists, I feel, have been guilty of this kind of thinking, as have more conservative elements of our society. This deeply unconscious way of thinking sets the pendulum in motion and separates people. We may take comfort in knowing that “our side won” on some environmental issue in court or using political muscle to push some legislation through. But, as we can see, it is undeniable that it leaves whole segments of society out in the cold, waiting for their “time” to direct things, and so the “victory” is short lived and short-sighted. It feeds ego to know “I” was part of a group that changed things, believing it is good, not seeing how this pendulum swing works, and why, and what we need to do to stop the swings. That is the bigger picture we need to focus on.

When we set our sights to seven generations from now, perhaps we can find common ground among all of us. I know that the so-called “right-winged” conservatives don’t want our children to live without quality of life, or to struggle for food, water, and health just as much as the so-called “liberal” wing. I know that conservatives, liberals, moderates, or whatever we choose to call anyone or any group are all people have feelings, have worries, love and suffer the same as anyone else. But, I also know that many on any side of the issues think in terms of “I”. The only reason indigenous peoples survived and thrived for as long as they did, is that they thought in terms of the collective and their progeny, listened to those with life experience, embraced humility and spirituality, and encouraged a paradigm that sees ourselves as not separate from anything in existence. My people, when greeting each other, say “Aang Waan”. What this greeting really means is “hello my other self”. And the Elders say that the personal truth of one person is as equally valid as any other individual truth. When we learn this, we begin to listen differently, and this new/old way of listening will lead us to long lasting and real solutions. What I share here is only one truth

-- Larry Merculieff