Healthy forest ecosystems benefit a variety of wildlife. Forests also benefit human health in a number of important ways. This story, which features two leaders in their respective efforts, pairs traditional knowledge of the effects of forests from the perspective of a Great Lakes Tribe with Western science, from the perspective of a participatory journalist.
Cloquet, Minnesota—In English, Thomas Howes’ title in his role with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is the “Natural Resources Manager.”
In Ojibwe, Howes’ work title signifies: “The leading foot of taking care of the gifts that were given to us.”
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are one of the few native nations with off-reservation treaty rights for harvesting. When Fond du Lac Band ceded territory to the U.S. aspart of several treaties, 1837, 1842, and 1854, tribal leaders were mindful that wildlife and plant species fluctuate over time, and they wanted their people to have healthy and full lives well into the future.
This sense of responsibility to future generations, human and non-human, continues today. Howes’ conservation philosophy considers “natural resources as gifts, a life-debt to the natural world.”
To help take care of the gifts of food and medicine with cultural and health significance found on the Fond du Lac Band reservation, Howe’s efforts take him across three states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The Fond du LacResource Management agency collaborates with state, federal and other tribal natural resource agencies. For example, the Fond du Lac Band and the natural resource departments in these three Great Lake states work together in fire ecology, prescribing the fire necessary for food production, berries, or wildlife habitat.
Things weren’t always this way, however. Treaty rights during Howes’ grandparent’s era were ignored, and the Fond du Lac Band and Tribes across the Continent were forced to assimilate to European ways through federal Indian boarding schools.
Today, tribal sovereignty, or the right of tribes to govern themselves, is confirmed in treaties, the U.S.Constitution, and in Supreme Court decisions. Howes carries in his pocket his tribal identification card, which is also his hunting, fishing, and gathering license, which he can use off the reservation.
Howes helps others to learn their treaty rights to ensure the gifts from the land are around for generations to come.
“Indigenous people in this country are on a healing path; we are on a reclamation path. Whether that’s our languages, our ceremonies, our harvesting,” says Howes. “That’s part of what we hope [for in terms] of our connection with our traditional foods and practices. There's definitely not only healing in a physical way but in a mental spiritual way.”
Here’s a brief video (approximately one minute) with the Natural Resources Manager Fond du Lac Band of Superior Chippewa. Thomas Howes talks about health and healing with the land through Indigenous Knowledge of traditional foods and cultural practices.
“Indigenous people in this country are on a healing path, we are on a reclamation path. Whether that’s our languages, our ceremonies, our harvesting. We are all on this path, a lot of us, not all, a lot of us tribal communities are on this path. We tried the American way, either by force or by us saying, well let’s try it. It's not working for our communities, whether it’s mental health, physical health, spiritual well-being. It’s not who we are. And so, there’s a real movement afoot in Indian country to be proud of who you are and to rebuild so many things that were damaged in our cultural from colonial aft. And that’s really powerful, but it’s a huge lift, it’s a big responsibility and there’s a lot of healing that has to happen. That’s part of what we hope that connection with our traditional foods and practices, there's definitely healing in that not only healing in a physical way but in a mental spiritual way.” Thomas Howes, Natural Resources Manager, Fond du Lac Band of Superior Chippewa.
Author and Science Journalist Florence Williams knows why nature makes people all over the world happier, healthier, and more creative.
In her book The Nature Fix, Williams writes about emerging science on why it feels so good to be outside.
Given that the majority of the world’s population lives in urban areas, evidence and insights from researchers across the globe have implications for everything from urban green space design to doctors prescribing time spent in parks.
Beyond cities, Williams discusses South Korea’s innovative conservation philosophy, particularly how the country’s government is managing healing forests to improve human mental health. Williams says this a radical shift from the U.S. model of managing public forests primarily for traditional forms of recreation, wildlife habitat, and tree harvesting.
“Aldo Leopold, as prescient as he was about the coming disconnection from nature, even he would not have predicted the extent of it,” said Williams recently on the Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic Live! program. “Nor could he predict the science of that disconnection—what happens when we are not exposed to the benefits of nature—depression, anxiety, myopia, loneliness."
Listen to a recording of Florence Williams’ recent presentation and discussion with the Aldo Leopold Foundation on Land Ethic Live!
Population-level studies across many countries confirm the mental health benefits of spending time in nature, showing that these effects are more than just anecdotal. Through participatory journalism, Williams experienced these benefits firsthand, for example noticing positive changes to her nervous system while on forest therapy trails in Japan.
Why does nature have such a beneficial impact on humans? Beyond exercise, Williams says nature impacts us in multisensory ways: the fractal patterns that repeat in nature stimulate us visually; the soothing colors and aerosols emitted by trees and other plants strengthen the immune system; and the pleasant sounds found in nature, such as the movement of water, gentle wind and rain, and bird songs, are calming. Further, in her book, Williams shares evidence of how researchers are connecting bird biodiversity and other natural measures to human health and life satisfaction.
What is Williams’ overall takeaway for us? Spend two hours per week in nature! “Go Outside,” she says. “Go often. Bring friends with you, or not. And don’t forget to breathe."
To learn more about Florence Williams and her work, visit florencewilliams.com.
The Aldo Leopold Foundation was founded in 1982 with a mission to foster the Land Ethic® through the legacy of Aldo Leopold, awakening an ecological conscience in people throughout the world.
"Land Ethic®" is a registered service mark of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, to protect against egregious and/or profane use.
