Indigenous people have practiced environmental management. For example, “In some woodland and mountainous areas of the continent, Native peoples burned the undergrowth of forest floors and created clearings by killing trees via girdling” (Cajete, 170). This benefited plants and animals by promoting new, healthy growth.
Corporations have lost the values of the native people. Consider their bottom line, if we are talking of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement or ANCSA corporations, they focus on profit. They are aware of their stock holders, and incorporate consideration in their investments. (Demientieff)
Objective: Explain how poverty is a major cause of malnutrition.
Over-processed foods are sources of malnutrition. Monocropping also degrades the soil and ruins the natural process of death of plants putting nutrients back into the environment. This constantly used soil is depleted of vitamins and nutrients. (DeWitt)
Objective: Explain the importance of the green revolution.
The current human population is not sustainable. Human activities are quickening climate change. Humans need to start changing their ways in the next few years. (DeWitt)
Objective: Distinguish between traditional and modern agricultural techniques.
There was some small scale farming of potatoes pre-contact. Many of the main agricultural foods used today came from indigenous groups in Americas – corn, squash, beans, potatoes, quinoa, and more. The American Indian people were adept in the cultivation of nutrient rich foods. Even in the Alaska Native groups, there were agricultural activities of calorically rich complex carbohydrate potatoes.
Missionaries could see the possibility of agriculture and how it could be adjusted to survive Alaska with a short growing season. Near Sam’s village of Holy Cross they grew potatoes and vegetables. (Demientieff)
Objective: Describe fertile soil.
Healthy biodiversity utilizes and gives different nutrients. Animals also give back nutrients. For instance, salmon are a rich source of nitrogen that is fed into the environment and supports forests. Microbiome health in soil is important to distribute nutrients. (DeWitt)
Objective: Explain the benefits and environmental impacts of pesticide use.
Pesticides are poisoning the environment. They also affect us on molecular level, as they inhibit endocrine systems and are toxic to humans. Nature keeps pests in checks, so pesticides are only a temporary fix for something else that is out of balance. There is usually a natural way to balance pests. Many chemicals we have today are industry byproducts. Those most affected by pesticides will be poor farmers and indigenous groups that live within proximity to farming areas or who work on the farm itself. This is a form of environmental racism. (DeWitt)
Objective: Explain how genetic engineering is used in agriculture.
Humans are not as smart as we’d like to believe we are. GMOs are supposed to improve upon an organism, but cause less genetic diversity and negatively affect human microbiome. (DeWitt)