This article was first published in our October Newsletter

The leaves are beginning to change colour along the shores of Kahnawake. As we enjoy the abundance of the harvest season, it's important to remember all the hard work being done by the natural world to make our very survival possible.

According to the traditional teachings of our people, the Creator gave each part of the natural world specific duties to fulfill in order to maintain balance. At the start and end of each day and of each gathering, we offer acknowledgement and respect to all parts of the natural world that continue to carry out their responsibilities and enable us to be here. This address is called the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, which in our language means "the words that come before all else." We use these important words to guide our actions and make decisions in consideration of the future generations.

Humans were given the important responsibility of nurturing a respectful relationship with the natural world and ensuring that the cycles of life continue. Sadly, as we all know, humans have been losing their connection to the natural world. As we are being bombarded by consumer culture, and an unlimited source of disposable and environmentally-damaging purchasing choices, we are finding it increasingly difficult to fulfill our responsibilities to the natural world. In fact, all the seemingly innocent daily choices we make about what we buy and eat, and how we move ourselves from place to place are wreaking so much havoc on the natural world that species are disappearing and we are losing their valuable contributions to the delicate web of life.

We have a lot of work to do to reverse these frightening trends. Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples have much to learn from each other in the important task of renewing balance in the natural world. When working together, Western science and Indigenous knowledge can form a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the world and our place in it. Greater collaboration and respect are required on this front if we are ever to achieve meaningful solutions to the environmental problems we are facing today.

The ancient purpose of the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen still rings true today. By acknowledging the important work being done by the natural world, we are thankful for the role that other living things play in our survival. It also helps us take ownership of our own responsibility to ensure that the web of life continues to function. Every human being has this responsibility and must find ways to make it a part of our lives. Today, this means educating ourselves about the impacts our daily choices have on the environment and finding alternatives that tread lightly on the planet.

While raking up leaves, or preparing Thanksgiving dinner, remember there are many ways to start this self-education journey. In today's fast-paced life, places like Co-op La Maison Verte can help us sort through all the information we are bombarded with in the media and make sound purchasing choices. We need to have the courage to make these changes in our life and influence others to take on the challenge too. The more we support each other in the process, the easier it will be... and the more our future generations will benefit from our efforts.

—Lynn