The Animals

We must hunt, trap, and farm properly. When we take the life of an animal, our original instructions tell us that we must do so respectfully. Never use lead shot, which contaminates our land and water. We should hunt, trap, and farm for our sustenance - to feed, clothe, and provide shelter for our families. We should always burn tobacco and use our language to thank the Creator and the animal for the sacrifice it has made. We must never kill the first animal that we see, for it may be the last of its species or it may be needed by some other animal or person. We must always show that we are humble and not act greedy.

As part of our original instructions, the Creator told us that there was to be no waste, that we were to use all parts of the animals we killed. Many parts of animals and birds that hunters and trappers kill can be used by Onkwehon:we artists and dancers. In addition, we should never kill a species that is rare, endangered, or threatened, such as a hawk, eagle, wolf, or rare fur bearing animal. Instead, get addresses of local, state, provincial, or federal officials who sometimes provide animal parts, including feathers, from birds and animals that die of natural causes. We should also never leave carcasses to rot. Like humans, the animals we kill deserve to be buried, so they too can return to Mother Earth. We must also never waste food. This is an important principle to teach our future genera­tions. Finally, we must hunt sustainably. This means that we must know the territory in which we hunt and trap. We must know the condition of the land and work to keep track of the animal populations so we know how many we can take each season without adversely affecting the ability of the species to survive. If we allow our people to over harvest, it will only mean a hardship for all of us in the future.

Get rid of part of your lawn and create wildlife habitat instead. Creating wildlife habitat is not difficult. Like humans, animals need food, shelter, cover, and water. Dense shrubs or evergreen trees provide cover and protection from the elements and predators. Dying or dead trees provide homes for birds and wildlife. Fruit and nut trees, as well as berry bushes, will attract many species of wildlife. Planting a medicine garden with species, such as angelica, bee balm, bergamot, boneset, butterfly weed, cardinal flower, elecampane, goldenseal, joe pye weed, mint, mullein, purple coneflower, swamp milkweed, valerian, vervain and wood betony (to name just a few) will not only provide you with medicine, but will also attract butterflies, honey bees, hummingbirds, and countless other species.

For more information, including a well written book about creating wildlife habitat, send your name and address, plus $12.95 to:

National Wildlife Foundation Backyards Habitats Program, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia 22184-0001

You may also be interested in checking out the National Wildlife Federations’ home page on the world wide web at http://www.nwf.org/habitats.

Encourage your school and workplace to become part of the National Wildlife

Federation’s Schoolyard and Workplace Habitats Program.

Protect, preserve, conserve, and restore wetlands, shorelines, and forest habitats. Plant trees that not only protect the soil but provide food, shelter and medicine for humans, animals, and birds.

If you have the resources, build a pond. Not only will you be able to successfully raise fish to feed your family, you will also provide habitat and water for countless species of wildlife and plants.

Raise honeybees or buy/make a bumble bee house (they can be purchased through Gardens Alive at the above address). Bees are in serious decline all over the United States. If you support their populations, they will, in turn, reward you by pollinating plants and trees in your yard and providing you with food. Keep your dogs tied up and your cats in the house. Dogs kill countless deer and other small animals. Cats kill millions of small animals and songbirds. Get both your male and female dogs and cats neutered and support animal control programs that humanely deal with feral (wild) dogs and cats. Support vaccination programs for pets and wildlife to prevent the spread of rabies. Use alternatives to flea collars. More than 50 million flea collars (which contain some pretty potent pesticides) are thrown in the garbage each year. Newer non-toxic products can be purchased from your veterinarian which do not contain pesticides but instead contain a very specific insect growth regulator

Support programs that restore rare, threatened and endangered animals such as wolf, moose, otter, bison, or cougar. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is currently involved in a project to reintroduce otters throughout the Aboriginal territory of the Haudenosaunee. Get involved in this project by checking out their web site at

http://www.nyrop.org or writing:

New York River Otter Project , PO Box 39512, Rochester, NY 14604

Defenders of Wildlife is an organi­zation that is currently sponsoring studies that will examine the impacts of reintroducing the wolf into the Adirondack Mountains. For all the Haudenosaunee who are wolf clan and would like to hear and perhaps even see a wild wolf in our homeland again, please get involved by contacting:

Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1400 Washington, DC 20005-5605

Check out their web site at: http//w ww.defenders.org.

Remind your children that if they find a healthy animal in the woods, to leave it alone. Many animals you might think are orphaned have actually been hidden by their mothers to protect them. As soon as you leave, their mother will return. The crudest thing that we can do is to take a baby away from its mother in the hopes of “helping it.” Call your local environmental agency or a wildlife rehabilitator in your area before approaching a wild animal that appears sick or injured. Support wildlife rehabili­tation clinics that care for sick and injured animals by donating food, blankets, money, or your time.

Remember, people who live closest to the land are the ones who truly under­stand how important the cycles of Creation are to our survival. Learn to live in balance with wildlife. Don’t be afraid of the natural world. Teach your children to appreciate, love, cherish and respect all Animal Life. This is what our culture teaches. This is our way of life.