The more I learn about the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) culture and their land, I am reminded of how much knowledge I still have yet to acquire. There is always something new to learn, not only about the FNMI culture but about the World in general and about life. We are learning something new everyday whether we realize it or not, whether it is something small or something big, we never stop absorbing new information.
A friend brought to my attention a TV series on Viceland, called Abandoned. I watched the “Native Lands” episode, and I think the appropriate word for my reaction is: Baffled. I learned about the Heilstuck Nation and the abandoned Namu fishery. As well as, an abandoned Copper Mine, and Gold Mine, and abandoned towns, all along the Pacific Northwest. These places are exactly the way that people left them. Nothing has changed other than the occurrence of mold and asbestos, and gradually deteriorating infrastructure. Some have a population of 0 now and others have between just 2-3 inhabiting these abandoned places. For example, there are only 2 people living in Ocean Falls, British Columbia, which used to be a copper mine, but the government has “done away” with this town. These two locals have put their effort forth to clean up and put the natural resources that are left, into good use.
I am surprised I had not learned about this earlier but some of us do not even know what is happening in other parts of the world let alone right here, in our own country. I think this could be for two reasons, one being that people are just simply unaware because they do not listen to the news and do not put in a conscious effort to become aware (ignorant by choice), and another reason being that the government simply sweeps certain pieces of information under the rug because certain information is perceived as being too risky to reveal, and it is seen as easier not to expose the truth.
The problem with these abandoned places is that by just leaving them to deteriorate, is detrimental to the health of the environment. Buckets of oil, as well as, metals are just left behind and nothing is cleaned up and properly disposed of. I guess it is true that, when it comes to “big business”, some rules pertaining to the environment do not always apply. There is no balance between industry and the preservation of nature. There is more being taken away than what is being given back. It is possible for humanity to come up with alternative ways of making profit, without harming the environment. I truly hope that the work many First Nations communities are doing has a ripple effect on the rest of the world because when, “The environment gets sick, we get sick.”