For 55 years, Earth Day has been an opportunity to raise awareness and drive action on vital environmental issues.
The Choctaw Nation advocates for the well-being of our planet, including its air, water sources, soil, ecosystems, wildlife and human health.
Earth Day will celebrate its 55th anniversary April 22, with participation from 192 countries worldwide.
According to the official Earth Day website, earthday.org, “people-power” has always been at the heart of Earth Day and the catalyst for change.
“The strength of this movement lies in its grassroots nature, and our power as individuals. It’s the collective voice of concerned citizens that pushes governments and corporations to make bold commitments and take decisive action. By engaging in community initiatives, participating in local and national elections with renewable energy in mind, and making sustainable choices in daily life, individuals are the catalysts for change,” Earthday.org states. “This people-powered revolution demonstrates that when we unite our voices and actions, we can overcome even the most recalcitrant systems and create a cleaner, more equitable energy future for all.”
Each year, a theme is chosen to represent the movement, and this year’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet™.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has long been a supporter of protecting natural resources and conservation efforts.
The connection between the Choctaw Nation and the Earth is a sacred one.
Two oral histories describe the origins of the Choctaw people.
One story speaks of the Creator shaping the Choctaw from clay beneath the Earth. The people then emerged from a cave at the base of a natural hill in Mississippi. This site, Nvnih Waiya (Place of Creation), is revered as the Mother Mound.
For thousands of years, the Choctaw people have respected the Earth.
Choctaw ancestors used controlled fires to create diverse environments for crops and honored the animals that provided food, shelter, and clothing.
Past and future Iti Fabvssa articles, which can be found at https://www.choctawnation.com/biskinik/iti-fabvssa/, provide information on historical Choctaw conservation and environmental efforts.
As Dr. Ian Thompson, Choctaw Nation’s Senior Director of Historic Preservation, said in his book, Choctaw Food: Remembering the Land, Rekindling Ancient Knowledge, “We are all connected to each other through the land. We depend on the Earth to provide the physical necessities that keep us alive.”
Today, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma continues its commitment to environmental protection through its Environmental Protection Services, which include Recycling, Wildlife Management, Environmental Compliance, Water Resources, and Environmental Assessment.
These services, largely supported through federal grants, help protect the environment and educate tribal members and the public so they can take action, advocate and support the environment.
In this month’s issue of the Biskinik, we will highlight some of these programs and services and ways our readers can support the environment not only on Earth Day but every day.
