{"id":11058,"date":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/conservation-protection-economics-land-management-practices-butt-heads-in-michigan\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11t16:00:00","slug":"conservation-protection-economics-land-management-practices-butt-heads-in-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/conservation-protection-economics-land-management-practices-butt-heads-in-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"conservation, protection, economics: land management practices butt heads in michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"
by samantha anderer<\/strong><\/p>\n as nathan wright walks along the rocky shores of little traverse bay, it\u2019s clear that he belongs there. a member of the sault ste. marie tribe of chippewa indians, wright\u2019s ancestors have cultivated the landscape of what is now harbor springs, michigan for generations. his tranquility radiates outward among the trees and birds.<\/p>\n \u201cyou\u2019re developing a relationship with the land and mother earth, you\u2019re paying respect to it,\u201d wright says. \u201cyou\u2019re honoring the plant and you\u2019re also honoring yourself, because you become more connected.\u201d<\/p>\n wright is a tribal water protector and brought water protectors of many tribes together may 13-14 for the heart of the turtle gathering he helped organize in mackinaw city. the gathering combined traditional knowledge and modern methods of environmentalism to raise awareness for the climate crisis and call for an end to fossil fuels, according to the official event flyer.<\/p>\n water protectors are activists that focus specifically on keeping water systems clean and safe. for many indigenous communities, such as the sault ste. marie tribe of chippewa indians, water is also protected through rituals and offerings of tobacco. these practices extend to other natural life such as plants, though relationships with the land are also maintained through more hands-on approaches. while the method of care varies depending on the plant, certain types of pruning can help stimulate growth and longevity.<\/p>\n \u201cwe\u2019ve got a saying, as anishnawbek, that if you don\u2019t use it, it\u2019ll go away. the plant will leave,\u201d wright says. \u201cour activity of being out there helps generate that activity of the roots to make them want to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n for outdoors buffs and environmental stewards, slogans such as \u201cleave no trace\u201d fit perfectly with the principles national parks and nature preserves preach. considering the influence humans have had on the environment over the past century, the concept of leaving nature alone seems to make complete sense. yet the story is not that simple.<\/p>\n the idea of a pristine wilderness is a relatively recent concept, popularized as industrialization imposed distance between people and land. this viewpoint fails to consider the role that humans historically played as part of the natural ecosystem, particularly discounting the longstanding relationship between indigenous peoples and mother nature. mountains, rivers, plants and animals are featured prominently in native american stories as dynamic participants.<\/p>\n as an indigenous herbalist, wright explains that there is an obligation to the flora he works with.<\/p>\n