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Hi non-Indigenous ecology/outdoors biology folks.
I’m asking you to be careful in how you celebrate the DOI choice.
Is it good that there’s finally an Indigenous person nominated to head that department? Absolutely.
Is that enough? No.
And maybe not for the reasons you think.
I’m asking you to be careful in how you celebrate the DOI choice.
Is it good that there’s finally an Indigenous person nominated to head that department? Absolutely.
Is that enough? No.
And maybe not for the reasons you think.
Remember (or now you know, if you didn’t), that the Bureau of Indian Affairs & Bureau of Indian Education are within the DOI.
Just basically down the hall* from Fish and Wildlife Service
imagine that.
*that’s facetious, by the way. I believe there are separate buildings.
Just basically down the hall* from Fish and Wildlife Service
imagine that.*that’s facetious, by the way. I believe there are separate buildings.
In general, human people are administrated through other departments. So, that’s a thing.
Anyway, this is important because having someone subject to that department, actually running it, is better than otherwise.
Anyway, this is important because having someone subject to that department, actually running it, is better than otherwise.
No one person can represent all of Indian Country, and I wouldn’t ask them to.
But it is reasonable to take issue with exclusion of Freedmen from citizenship.
Among other stuff.
But it is reasonable to take issue with exclusion of Freedmen from citizenship.
Among other stuff.
All of which to say, yes, this is nice, but it’s kind of a bare minimum and whether it will result in good policies and fair treatment for Indigenous people is something we can be optimistic about...
...open question, not your lane.
...open question, not your lane.
I am begging you:
- Not to interpret this as a successful justice act of any sort.
- Do not “nature is healing” this situation.
- Stay in your lane.
- Do not assume I speak for anyone else, I speak for myself. Some people will agree with me. Many won’t.
- Not to interpret this as a successful justice act of any sort.
- Do not “nature is healing” this situation.
- Stay in your lane.
- Do not assume I speak for anyone else, I speak for myself. Some people will agree with me. Many won’t.
Check this out, this is a real issue and it’s really bad. https://twitter.com/choctawfreedmen/status/1330941790262861828
DOI website:
“The DOI conserves and manages the Nation’a natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people...”
Oh okay. There’s more and it gets more specific but that’s the umbrella statement.
Bleh. I’m done.
“The DOI conserves and manages the Nation’a natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people...”
Oh okay. There’s more and it gets more specific but that’s the umbrella statement.
Bleh. I’m done.
PS this thread is relevant to more than ecologists and outdoors biology-adjacent people.
I addressed it to this group because I was trying to head off a lot of the white environmentalist, cosmetic inclusion focused triumphalism that is popular in these spaces.
I addressed it to this group because I was trying to head off a lot of the white environmentalist, cosmetic inclusion focused triumphalism that is popular in these spaces.
