From the Offices of the Department of Environment

As the year 2009 slips past us and we move on into 2010, let us take time to reflect. We realize that we, the People, were given the duties and responsibilities to live in balance and harmony with all living things including each other. We understand that there are issues that cause confrontation between some of us, that’s only human nature so let us learn by those and go on. We are all charged with the responsibility of ensuring people are made aware of detrimental effects on the environment so that we will all protect and preserve our environment for future generations.

We pay our respect to our Mother Earth and at all times, we must keep her in our minds as we go through life making decisions that could affect her; in 2009 we have been mindful of her.

We have also kept in our minds the Waters of the world. We realize that the water we have today is the same water that our ancestors left for us, as we must do so for our unborn. In the waters there are Fish & Water Plants & insects. We have been mindful of our obligations to those fish, water plants & insects for we realize that those fish & plants were given the responsibility to clean and purify the waters of the world so that all remain healthy. We must act responsibly in order to give those fish, water plants & insects a positive environment.

We have been mindful of the Plants. These include the food plants and medicinal plants. We have worked positively in ensuring that these plants have a diverse environment in order that they flourish. Plants have been transplanted in and around Akwesasne as part of our Heritage project. This department has planted sweetgrass in a number of places in Akwesasne including at our new building on Kawenoke.

We are mindful of the Trees that they too continue to follow the original instructions given to them by the Creator at the beginning of time as we know it. The trees provide us with so many things. Some provide us with building material for our homes, some with fruit, some with nuts. We acknowledge the Maple tree as their leader, she is the first of the trees to give to us in the spring as she releases all the sap for our enjoyment. All the trees provide us with good clean air to breath and for that we are grateful.

We have been mindful of the Animals as well. We realize that some of these animals give themselves to us in order that we eat. In doing so we gail! their energy but also gain the responsibility to do our part to ensure that they have a balanced ecosystem to ensure their on-going sustainable levels.

The Birds gave us some concern this past year with the West Nile Virus but we did our part and as the year passes, the birds are still here and for the most part, healthy. We realize that we have a problem protecting some species like the Great Blue Heron and will be doing our part in the coming year to ensure them a healthy habitat. We have established nesting sites for the Osprey and have installed nesting platforms for the mighty eagle but the site remains unoccupied. We are also addressing the concerns of our people with the Cormorants.

We have been mindful of the industrial plants that surround us and have monitored the Four Winds. We have acted responsibly in the environmental assessments in areas that could have effected our local air quality. This also involves the Thunderers; they carry with them the rain that refreshes our lives. In those raindrops are the particles of the emissions of all industry both near and far.

We have been mindful in our work with all other agencies, governments, and partners to ensure that a quality of life remain at a healthy level. This ensures that our eldest brother, the Sun can carry on its duties and responsibilities unhindered by air borne particles or for the lack of ozone. For the first time in history, our friends in the far north have suffered sunburn.

Grandmother Moon and the Stars that shine like fine jewelry in the night time sky continue to do their duties and responsibilities as was given to them well beyond the memory of you or I; we are indeed pleased that they follow those original instructions.

We are mindful of the 4 Sacred Beings who watch over us to keep us safe from impending danger. They are our additional senses that keep us in touch with the spiritual world and provide that connection to the physical world we live in. They are our intuition and are the ones to warn us should we walk down the wrong path and will also lead us to the right path as long as we do our part and listen.

We have been mindful of our Enlightened Teachers and with the help of our Elders, their wisdom and knowledge is valued and their teachings help .us to protect our future. Our elders have also worked with us in developing our plans in and around the Heritage project. This includes the work with the regeneration and reforestation of Black Ash and medicinal plants.

We are but human beings and there are things that we could not do this year as a Department concerned with the Environment but also realize that these things belong to us all and it is our collective responsibility to ensure a healthy environment. We must be mindful of those unborn; the next seven generations and all do our part.

We remain mindful of our Creator in all that we do. We are mindful of those things that we have learned in order to act responsibly and to ensure that we are upholding the Creators original instructions to us as people.