to native peoples,
Environmental Justice goes beyond the issue of disproportionate toxic, nuclear
contamination & health exposure of our elders, men, women, youth, children
& our traditional food
Environmental
Justice Includes:issues of exploitation, ecological damage,
restoration of natural resources, compensation for victims of exposures &
protection & healing of biological diversity that sustains us & allows
us to practice our culture, language, & spirituality;the protection of all areas that are sacred &
that are culturally & historically significant to our peoples and it
addresses
economic development & social justice issues towards building sustainable
communities with safe & sustainable jobs & livelihoods
Environmental justice: means the decolonization
of our minds & recognition of traditional knowledge as the foundation of
who we are
addresses
ethical & policy issues concerning biotechnology, ownership of life,
introduction of genetically modified organisms into the environment &
policy issues on intellectual property rights of Indigenous knowledge; it means
developing & maintaining education and language programs that teaches
adults and the younger generation what their relationship is to the sacredness
of our Mother Earth
means
understanding and defending our treaties and to exercise our right to
self-determination as Indigenous peoples; it means to claim our inherent right
to protect our traditional land, water, air and our future generations
In the United States, it means the right to develop our own tribal environmental protection
programs with our own water and air quality standards, and seek delegated
authority to implement our own environmental programs - which strengthens our
sovereignty
In the United States and Canada, it means to have the right to fully protect our
environment and all natural resources in our traditional territories, reserves
and reservations by applying, monitoring and enforcing our own tribal-based
environmental, historical, sacred areas, endangered species and conservation
laws
Environmental Justice means to be active-from the grassroots to
tribal government-in all policy decisions from local, tribal, state, national
and international levels where policy development is made that affects our
future generations and all life that sustains us and our Mother Earth.
“Environmental Justice” by Indigenous Environmental
Network
