Tlingit Elder Elaine Abraham shared stories of her ancestors’ relationship with their environment at the Alaska Rainforest Center's symposium at Centennial Hall, Thursday.
The three-day event encouraged collaboration between organizations with a stake in the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.
Abraham spoke particularly of her people’s connection to trees.
She offered stories of Tlingit warriors who dressed for battle with trees, shamans who negotiated with trees, trees that offer their own lives for tools and homes and fire. These same trees would dictate wise caveats for their sacrifice.
The Tlingit and Haida have lived in Southeast Alaska for thousands of years. Abraham offered a look at how they did it.
Abraham said her ancestors left messages on stones as they migrated between Ketchikan and Yakutat. These messages are still found along low tide beaches, she said.
Abraham said the information she would deliver to the audience came from her father, Olaf David Abraham.
“He’ll be giving messages for you,” Abraham said.
Tlingit warriors would fast and pray for day to lead them in to the right trees they will use to make wooden collars. The trees were selected by a shaman. The area became protected and the trees gave permission to be killed, Abraham said.
“They have to ask the tree people … we don’t call them trees, we call them ‘the people of the trees,’” Abraham said. “From the rock to the streams and we lived in close communication with them. They were people to us.”
She told about a man from the Owl House killed by a fallen tree. The tree trapped the body.
“The tree people refused to give up the body,” Abraham said.
So Abraham’s ancestors fought back.
“They put on their royal battle armor and went to the edge of the trees and challenged the tree people to war.”
Instead of war, as a symbol of peace they carved an image of the man from the Owl house from the tree that had crushed him.
That’s how close the relationships are, Abraham said. “You read about it in your books and it says they were really close to the animals and plants. We lived with them as if they were human beings. We didn’t see it any different.”
Abraham lives in Yakutat. She was the first Tlingit registered nurse and worked in Juneau, Mt. Edgecumbe and Bethel.
She’s held leadership positions at Sheldon Jackson College and the University of Alaska.
“Abraham is a revered Tlingit elder and serves as Chairperson of the Board of Commissioner's of the Alaska Native Science Commission,” according to the Alaska Native Science Commission website. (bit.ly/I16DfJ)
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (26)
Add commentI wanna move to Tokyo!
Ya think those old growth spruce gave their permission to Sealaska Corp. to kill them so they could be exported in the round to Asia?
Choose respect.
Don't see too many talking to trees. See too many dog-owners allowing their pooches to pee on them though.
Traditional Knowledge
As a Chairperson to the Native Science Commission, I don't think Abraham literally believes any of this stuff. She's just retelling what her ancestors believed.
Right?
Mike
/edited
Smokin bark again ?
Smokin bark again ?
Corporations vs. trees
If corporations can be people, why not trees?
I, too, am concerned if she is merely sharing folklore....or if trees talk to her.
She believes it
The story of trees being people was not the only account of the local Native religion that she gave. And with this particular liturgy she showed a photograph of the carved human figure that came from the tree. All the while that she told of the religion David Katzeek was in the audience murmuring in Tlingit much like you might hear in a revival meeting during a sermon. She spoke of the spirits, and of the shaman having power and communicating with the spirits in the rocks, trees, mountains, and wind. I believe the indoctrination of the missionaries has finally worn thin, and this Tlingit religion is being revived. She spoke of obtaining permission from the trees to harvest trees for a building but the trees said they could only be moved by hand when snow was deepest so soil, plants and rocks would not be harmed. How all this comports with roadbuilding and clearcutting on Sealaska land was not addressed. I presume that Elaine Abraham and David Katzeek are Sealaska shareholders.
Sealaska is guilty of being serial killers
with trees being people. Come to think of it, why isn't Rosita Worl telling all us Tlingit people to worship trees instead of cutting them since she is always trying to remind us that she has a direct line to the ancestors? Or does Rosita only have oracle powers about traditional ways when she is paid, sort of like Miss Cleo the Psychic? I really miss her infomercials...
hey
go TLINGITS
To be serious for a moment
True enough Sealaska cuts trees but all cultures change over space and time. Traditionally the Northwest coast people utilized the salmon as the main source of their economic infrastructure. The Tlingit strongly believed the salmon had spirits and they respected them; but they also harvested and ate them for generations. Eventually that resource was stripped from us long ago with the illegal seizure of our lands. However, in 1971 the Federal government compensated the Native people with land conveyances forming 13 regional corporations and dozens of village corporations to empower Native people with economic development opportunities with the intent of harvesting resources- over 80% of the Tongass is federally protected from development and logging with 1.5% being conveyed to Sealaska for economic purposes.
Yet Sealaska is constantly criticized for the use of its natural resources to provide social, cultural, and economic opportunities for its shareholders. People who make an effort to learn about our history and culture would know we have always used our resources for the benefit of our people, and that we have always demonstrated respect and appreciation for what we use. The Northwest coast people have stories that we passed on for thousands of years about the use of our resources and how we owe them respect and gratitude.
If you review the Silviculture practices of Sealaska where they hand plant millions of seedlings; fund research on fish habitat; use selective harvest practices; basil prune trees to increase undergrowth for deer browse- you would easily observe this is respectful use of the land.
Like most things in life, issues like logging trees and balancing cultural values are complex and to come to an understanding of how certain views or cultural values are reconciled when they seem to contradict each other, you have to have genuine dialogue and critically think about the complexities of issues. But first, you have to open you mind and have a genuine desire to seek knowledge. Having narrow or closed minds about issues you have prejudices towards will not result in meaningful, respectful dialogue. This is how we come to solutions and understanding.
The monies derived from Sealaska's logging activities pumps tens of millions into the regional economy every year providing tax dollars to communities, jobs, scholarship funds, and dividends shareholders spend in local businesses for goods and services. Many local business owners are very happy that Sealaska has an economic presence in the region. Sealaksa is also investing heavily into renewable, alternative energy solutions for the region. If what Sealaska is doing is not the right answer, then it begs the question: what is the RIGHT answer? What are other organizations doing to protect and create jobs? What are other organizations doing to create sustainable economic opportunities and renewable energy solutions to bring relief to small communities devastated by increasing energy costs?
If you are not part of the solution-you are part of the problem.
Silviculture practices?
Sealaska cuts right up to stream, state forest practices require at least 100 foot buffers, US Forests require more than that, Hydaburg residents are posting proof that Sealaska at this very moment are clear cutting right up to the stream bed and doing the very same thing to Prince of Wales that they did to Hoonah.
Fisheries pumps tens of millions of dollars into the local and regional economy every year, and it doesn't take years to recover from clear cuts.
Complete lie
Sea Dogg that is completely false- Sealaska is required to follow state guidelines and FRPA practices. State law mandates that logging activities near fish habitat are required to implement 66 foot buffers to protect an preserve fish habitat. IF Sealaska indeed logged up to the stream they would be in violation of state regulations. I was on POW where I toured their forestry practices and saw firsthand their riparian management- well maintained buffers keeping stream areas cool and protected from soil degradation- not to mention blue berry bushes( deer browse) over 6 feet tall in basil pruned areas.
You need to remember a majority of the board members and even staff of Sealaska are commercial fisherman or are related to people who are- to suggest they would deliberately endanger fish habitat and compromise their own way of life and threaten the livelihoods of their families and communities is completely absurd. Let us also remember the special relationship Native people have with salmon which are an important component of Native culture. As such Sealaska would NEVER utilize such practices and deliberately destroy fish habitat.
I respect different views and values but out and out lies that Sealaska clear-cuts up to the water is ridiculous. If what you say is such public knowledge the state would be all over Sealaska so please use evidence to support your wild claim.
http://www.sealaska.com/object/io_1332783731896.html
http://www.sealaska.com/object/io_1327705945158.html
http://www.sealaska.com/object/io_1331849058314.html
Personal issues with Sealaska
SeaDogg55, it amazes me how people have personal issues they air out in the comments. I read how you have issue with Rosita and Ricardo in past comments. Ricardo happens to be good at his job which is why he received the THRHA job. We are all related so I guess you can always use this as an excuse when you don't like someone or something.
JJ
Yes SeaDogg- the fishing
Yes SeaDogg- the fishing industry IS a very valuable component to SE's economy- you fail to understand this is not about who makes the most; its about how all the industries combined make a vibrant economy that provides jobs and revenues for everyone.
An insult to Tlingit culture
Some of these comments are an insult to Tlingits and Sealaska and show the ignorance of the authors. It appears very simple minds had a real difficulty understanding Elaine Abraham's talk and these same small minds are having a challenge understanding that Sealaska does what it has to, to continue respecting their culture and heritage. I agree with Ravenhouse... I think it's time people just stop telling lies.
Just wondering...
If a tree says no, does anybody listen?
Ravenhouse & JimmyJ - interesting
That you should both should misspell seadog(g) and post within minutes of each other. FYI, clear cut streams that silt up do not benefit the fisheries, they actually harm salmon & trout spawn because they fish cannot breath via their gills. But that is probably beyond your feeble grasp of biology, much less traditional Tlingit respect of salmon, isn't it?
As for my statements about Hydaburg - Hydaburg contacted Haida Corporation & Sealaska, see this link:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1898999369574&set=a.1342450696205...
You are a liar and ignorant - so you need to get your facts in order and quit being a troll.
As for Ricardo, he never majored in finance or accounting, so don't tell me he is qualified for his job. He and his brother Rod were never qualified for their job - it was only because of their Queen Bee Mother Rosita that they got their positions.
Are you counting on people forgetting on the Worls being involved in one of the largest fines ever levied by the Alaska Public Office Commission back in the 1990s with Eileen McLean when they ghost wrote articles for her campaign when they ran the Alaska Native News Magazine? I bet you were, either that or you are ignorant.
As for Ravenhouse and Sealaska vouching for the Tlingit - they don't and it's clear by the lack of progress in Congress for the Sealaska Bill that Sealaska is NOT A TRIBE and they do NOT SPEAK FOR THE TLINGIT, HAIDA, OR TSHIMSHIAN. Sealaska can run around till the sun goes down telling us we are tribal member shareholders when they do not provide a single governmental service - like roads, social services, child welfare, health care, vocational training, etc. There is price to be paid for not helping their shareholders by not providing basic governmental services and that is this - you are not a tribal goverment. Furthermore, it a tribal election, it is one person, one vote - none of this discretionary vote by the board nonsense; under a democracy everyone is equal under the law which means that they board is not more equal than an individual shareholder. So, Ravenhouse/Jimmy J, take your limited, uninformed opinions elsewhere.
I have my facts in order and clearly you don't.
Too bad
What a beautiful story of respect for the enviornment and a lesson for all...and just look what the bloggers turned it into! I'm not native but I can appreciate the wisdom when it is firmly rooted in values. The petty politics and name calling here ruined it for me.
Thanks Mama T
To me, Elaine's stories demonstrate that Tlingit culture has understood the human being to be one member in the biotic community for thousands of years. Our culture, on the other hand, insists an anthropocentric view -- that we are the dominant creature that has the power and authority to manipulate, manage, and exploit the natural world to no end.
How many thousands of years did Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian live in this region? About 10 or 11 thousand? How many energy crises did they encounter? When did they worry about the costs of doing business and importing food? About depleting bait fisheries or salmon stocks? About excessive winter kill for our ungulates due to clearcut logging? About water quality associated with mine tailings? They didn't.
Our culture has been around for a couple hundred years, and we've managed to destroy most of our herring and hooligan fisheries, flirted with destroying cod, crab, and salmon fisheries, witnessed upward of 75% winter kill on deer in areas affected by clearcuts, and now we're all peeing in our pants wondering what we should do with 1. the economy and 2. natural gas/biofuels/more hydro.
I agree with some posters here that Sealaska is not a tribe, nor do they speak with the best interests of Southeast tribes in mind. And their logging practices are profoundly irresponsible. They did, however, get sucked into a white man's solution to manifest destiny -- ANCSA -- and look at all the wonderful problems that have ensued.
I saw Elaine speak twice this year. Once last week, and once in January. Do I believe that trees are people? No. Do I understand very clearly what she is saying? Yes. If we behave as simple members of the biotic community, we can sustain our people for thousands of years. That's sustainability. If we behave like we have for the past hundred years, we can liquidate our resources and start to panic when we finally realize they're drying up-and any talk about sustainability is just lip service.
So when a tree falls
in the woods because of natural causes, is it suicide?
@ Seadogg and southeastfood
Correct- Sealaska is not a tribe nor is it responsible for providing tribal services that BIA, Tlingit & Haida, and all of the other federally recognized tribal organizations that receive federal funding provide.
Everyone is entitled to their own subjective, emotional opinions as demonstrated by Facebook. However, such opinions are not empirical and prove to be anecdotal observations; not useful measuring sticks to determine whether or not Sealaska's activities are "right or wrong".
If you look at the facts, you would see that Sealaska is lobbying congress to make land selections OUTSIDE of existing watersheds and fish habitat. Sealaska has chosen to do so as a result of many community meetings where residence have expressed concern with regard to logging in their watershed.
Again, Sealaska is required to follow FRPA regulations and utilize 66 foot buffers when logging near anadromous fish streams.
As far as people being upset about Sealaska logging near Hydaburg, if the land belongs to Sealaska, they have to log to provide revenues for shareholders and provide jobs- as I recall, around 15% of Hydabug's economy is based on Sealaska's logging operation. Yes, logging is not an "attractive" activity, but it has to be done somewhere and as long as they follow protection measures and FRPA policies, the rest is subjective commentary- this does not make Sealaska "profoundly irresponsible".
Remember, Sealaska's activities benefit us all and put tens of millions into the regional economy and are providing promising energy solutions- I would be curios to hear what Southeastfood is doing or what he/she thinks others are doing to provide 400 jobs, revenues, and energy solutions to the Southeast?
Ravenhouse - fishing is Alaska's largest industry
Not logging. Fishing is more sustainable than logging and provides more jobs. When Sealaska devastates the land, the local communities cannot for years and years use the very same clearcut land for traditional hunting & fishing -- which is important where there are few jobs. Most of the logging jobs go to outside logging outfits who bring their own staff in, the logging activity does not last that long, and it takes decades for the forest to recover.
As for "we all benefit" you mean to say that Sealaska board members and managers benefit the most and scraps trickle down to the shareholders.
If Sealaska is not a tribe (and I'm glad to see we agree on at least that issue), then Sealaska needs to quit referring to "tribal member shareholders." And Chris McNeil needs to quit lobbying US Secretary of the Interior Salazar for a Presidential Executive Order that would ANCSA corporations tribes since Sealaska has not been able to push the legislation through Congress. A tribe, when it has an election, votes one man (person) one vote - there is none of this discretionary voting nonsense. Furthermore, a tribal government has to provide essential public services, which Sealaska does not do in any way, shape, or form.
As for your technically incorrect reference to the EPA - Sealaska land is private and therefore not subject to NEPA. US Forest Service land is subject to NEPA but not Sealaska. Get your facts in order.
You can almost see the dollar
You can almost see the dollar signs in Ravenhouse's eyes
Sorry Seadogg- Sealaska IS
Sorry Seadogg- Sealaska IS required to follow FRPA/State guidelines- I know this for a fact. if you choose to ignore this than so be it.
I agree fishing is an important industry and is a vital economic engine for the SE. But as I said earlier, its not about which industry provides the most jobs- it takes a myriad of job fields to sustain our economy and the timber industry is one of them.
As you may know, limited entry permits limit the amount of people who can benefit from the industry; other options need to be available for people to make a living in this region-not just the fisherman.
On a side note, fisherman aren't the saints of the southeast- take the village of Angoon who accuses fisherman of over-harvesting and limiting their subsistence intake, not to mention the bycatch impacts, as well as the violations fisherman are charged with for over-harvesting and other transgressions. I have know some pretty dirty operations where fisherman let fish sit in their fish holds beyond holding times and temperatures, dump their hydraulic fluid, oil, diesel fuel, garbage, and whatever else you could pollute the environment with into the water when no one is looking. All in the pursuit of making a buck- make no mistake-commercial fisherman are out to make the most they can just like anyone else.
I guess the pervasiveness of human nature manifests in all walks of life.
Why change?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150621010011784&set=a.376256106...
Honor and Respect
I have a Tlingit friend and I have learned from her that all living things- trees, birds, animals etc.- have a soul and the soul is to be respected. I had to have a big evergreen tree cut down because of snow damage. I wrote to my friend. She took my story to her elders and they had some kind of meeting and thanked the tree for giving up its life. I now have planted several beautiful flowering plants around the tree stump. It's too bad that so many people have no respect for living things, including the beliefs of others. I believe that if a person wants respect, they have to give respect. I learned a long time ago that to love others, a person must first love themself.