Environmental Justice in Adirondacks

Annual John Brown Day happens May 9th, 2 to 4 p.m. in Lake Placid.

The theme will be as always to continue John Brown's legacy of bringing freedom to those enslaved and unlimited effort to express those concerns. The John Brown Lives! Society continues those efforts. There will be a screening at LPCA of "Selma." On a related theme they will discuss Environmental Justice in this short seminar. How to open the Adirondacks to Indigenous children, children of color whether they live in urban areas or rural in New York and beyond.
 The book, The Adventure Gap" by James Edward Mills discusses this. However it bypasses the situation of Native America. It focuses mainly on African Americans. It is still a eye opener even though it is mainly about recreational adventures exclusive to pocketbook or cultured elite skill sets, unless you know a Sherpa willing to guide you for free. And right now they have more important concerns than hauling outsiders up Mt. Everest such as survival from recent earthquake there.

Be aware-by 2030 in America will not have more than 50% Caucasian population. It is time to enlist protectors of our Earth as well as let individual kids have the same chance to see, relax in and touch the 6 million acres of preserved wilderness that exist in the Adirondack Park and many other places in America. We need to train these future nature protectors and defenders who will speak for our animal and earth brothers and sisters. Instead of access to wild Alaska, I now am raised in an apartment surrounded by manicured private lots so I understand the lack of opportunity for children of color. I believe 70% or more of our Native children are URBAN residents. I did not know that. Now I understand. We, out of all people, need to stay connected to Turtle Island as well as have empathy for all Indigenous Peoples and issues facing their homeland on the planet. There is a Diversity Advisory Council now helping solve this problem in the Adirondacks and mom recently emailed them with ideas. They will hold diversity training soon to brainstorm ideas to open up the dialog. (AdirondackDAC@gmail.com)

To jumpstart my C.N.A.Y. (Center for Native American Youth) "Challenge" which really is this blogzine (a long term project), I offered to have a Watershed display during a Earth Week event called The Green Shindig which my school environmental club hosted. Using a canoe as a table, I put in several created poster boards using information from local agencies and Google research. Mom got the brochures and friends Henry and Trent carried the canoe to the car and set-up the display. There was a live band, slideshow by scientist/professor Curt Stager who informed us that Climate Change HAS hit the Adirondacks and bike powered smoothies and humans by a bonfire. Since I live in such a special (and White) place, we used the caption, "Stop non-Native Invaders" as the display was about non-native  invading and spreading destructive plants, insects, and fish diseases and how to stop or eliminate them. Activists can have humor.

 What dangers lurk in your own Watershed? We all have one. LOOK AT CALIFORNIA and their dire water level problems. We all need water to survive.
Here are resources to learn about Invasive Species in this area to protect the water from our mountains to our streams which flow into Lake Champlain. Mohawk country.
Clean your boat, fishing equipment, waders, kayaks and canoes before you venture into a different body of water! Learn the procedures.

www.adkinvasives.com
www.dec.ny.gov
www.ausableriverassociation.org
www.lawntolake.org