Budd Inlet lies at the south end of Puget Sound. The estuary of the Deschutes River, the inlet was once teeming with many thousands of birds and endless swarms of fish. Humans fit in.
Then in the middle of the 19th century it all changed. Humans arrived with machines capable of dominating and destroying natural systems. To be fair, many involved early on didn’t know the full impact of what they were doing. As time has passed corporations have become the driving wheel, companies with one objective, to make money for their shareholders.
Local governing bodies have been easily taken in. The Port of Olympia which governs the inlet’s central peninsula claims to be “a vital economic engine and community partner, responsible for owning and operating a marine terminal, Swantown Marina & Boatworks, Olympia Regional Airport, and real estate properties throughout Thurston County. The Port is committed to sustainable practices, economic growth, and community engagement, ensuring a prosperous future for all of Thurston County.”
Sustainable practices? How? What? What about poor water quality or loss of species? These things don’t exist or they don’t matter.
But not to lose heart. It’s becoming more apparent, day by day to one and all, that we have really screwed things up. People are sick of the dominant paradigm. And there’s a clearly defined pathway out.
Deep Ecology is an emerging belief that all living things have intrinsic value regardless of their usefulness to humans: a diversity of life forms contributes to the realization of these values and is a value in itself; it’s foolish for humans to reduce this diversity; and recognizing the ecological self, one’s true self, involves moving past an isolated ego to realize that we are deeply interconnected with the entire natural world.
These ideas took form during the beatnik mid 20th century but they are nothing new. The ideas presented in Deep Ecology are consistent with indigenous cultures in which spiritual beliefs center on a deep respect for nature. All living things as well as those of land and water possess consciousness and a spirit and all communicate with humans through dreams. These beliefs are guided by foundational values, interconnected clan systems and oral histories.
The funny thing is, none of these ideas run contrary to what we’re learning. The deeper we look into our crystal ball at the worlds of dark energy and quantum entanglement, the more mystifying it all becomes.
The Haida term Haa Aaní (Our Land) is the belief that the land is alive and connected to the people. Humans are caretakers, using the land while respecting its spirit. A central figure in oral traditions, the raven is a trickster, creator and cultural hero who brought light to the world and shaped the environment. And there are primordial ancestresses, powerful figures like SGuuluu Jaad (Foam Woman) and Jiila Kuns (Creek Woman) tied to matrilineages. Matrilineal society is symbolized by the Eagle (or Wolf, depending on the region) and the Raven.
Painting by Berselalau
The term “Coast Salish” refers to a language family, including two dozen distinct languages. The Coast Salish-speaking peoples have lived in what is present-day western Washington and southwestern British Columbia for more than 10,000 years. Their geographic territory includes the lands bordering the Salish Sea—Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia—as well as the Pacific coast of Washington and northern Oregon.
10,000 years. Not 1000. Not 2000. Not 3000. Not 4000. Not five and we’re still only half way there. One might suspect they learned a thing or two.
Central values require individuals to honor elders, maintain balance, and respect family, clan, and tradition. Traditional practices like the Potlatch serve as social systems for validating these beliefs.
Each tribal group has its own name for themselves. Many tribal names today, such as Tulalip and Muckleshoot, refer to reservations where people from different tribal groups have come together to live.
The Tlingit, like their neighbors, have a rich culture based on fishing and art and a family system passed down through women. They believe that all living things have a spirit and are connected through universal consciousness. Their name means “People of the Tides”. They understand the importance of the tides, the mixing of salt and fresh waters, the estuaries and the richness of life.
Crows, ravens and jays will make friends with you. And black bears too. Not to mention marine mammals. Nature can be a friendly place. Too bad so many people never experience it.
Photo by Kelli Williams and Connie Wagoner.
Deep Ecology has been likened by critics to the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. Yes there are too damn many people. But the two concepts could not be more antithetical. Advocates for human extinction see no hope. Advocates for deep ecology see a paradise on earth.
Back to deep ecology.
Vital Needs: Humans should not reduce biodiversity unless to satisfy vital needs.
Human Interference: Current, excessive interference in the natural world is worsening.
Policy Change: Fundamental economic, technological, and ideological structures must change.
Quality of Life: The focus should shift from standard of living to quality of life.
Obligation to Act: Adherents are obliged to implement these changes.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Northwest-Coast-Indian
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coastal-salish
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tlingit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_and_religion_of_the_Tlingit
https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/Haida-Tlingit-Native-by-Berselalau/90198577/wqnt
Garden Bay 