Climate catastrophe due to colonialism: Epic water shortage from climate catastrophe is severe. Declining freshwater levels can be seen at reservoirs, rivers are completely drying up and disappearing forever as i keep telling people a river can die. I first started talking about rivers dying around 2015-2016. Lakes have also dried up and in some cases, colonists have turned the dry lakes into offroad racetracks which is a perfect example of why settlers cannot be allowed to lead anything on our continent. Water shortage is and will continue to lead to crop failure. The farmers in so called northern “California” have had to dig their wells another 1000 feet and in many cases cannot drill further than they already have. Colonial agriculture is water hungry. Any indigenous person who is in relation to the land can tell you that wild harvest can produce more calories per acre than colonial style agriculture and without irrigation or irrigation as we know it with colonialism. This was partly explained to me by an Anishinaabe elder who told me about how colonial style agriculture has been pushed on indigenous peoples when we had no need for it. In addition to wildharvest we had horticultures. An example would be the Mineconjou (The planters along the stream) who planted corn along streams. Also worthy of note are the canals of the Hohokum, and the ancient gardens of the tribes of the region Illahee. Some of those tribe include but not limited to Kalapuya, Santiam, Wasco, Modoc, Klamath, Cayuse, Numu, Nimiipuu, Blackfeet and others. Even Lakotas are known to have ancient food gardens and growing food was of paramount importance to indigenous peoples who made planting back a part of a way of life. Much of the permaculture movement is stolen indigenous knowledge and as we face increased droughts the world has much to learn from indigenous peoples.
Capitalism and imperialism: Capitalism is putting profits over the needs of people and the living world. It is contributing to massive food waste. Food is ending up in landfills by the ton rather than give to those in need. Food boxes that the empire gives out at food banks reserve the cheapest foods for the poor and most of the time unless compensated by local farms do not offer enough fresh fruits and vegetables. They do not adequately provide for people who have diabetes. Food stamp programs only supply what a person needs for 3 weeks out of the month. The u.s empire routinely starves people. Food scarcity is manufactured.
Slavery: Colonial style agriculture causes slavery because someone is always required to work that land as where wild harvest doesn’t have this slavery element if you are gathering your own food off of the land. The illegitimate settler colony the so-called u.s has had indigenous and other oppressed peoples growing their foods for so long that many people do not even know how to grow food and if so, then often not with proficiency.
Virus: The virus has had a major impact of food production. This has caused many factories to be disrupted and the collective efforts at food production and harvest to be impeded. In addition, there has been another major outbreak of avian flu (bird flu) and this has caused a shortage of chicken.
Military: The u.s and other militaries are attacking people’s food supplies. In some cases, hundreds of tons of food have been destroyed. Nato and their colonial bullying scheme has disrupted the wheat production overseas. This will cut countries like India short and in turn they will cut off food export to the so called u.s in an effort to feed their own populations. Several freeze dried food companies are ins shortage as well as M.R.E are getting harder to come by this is proof of the militaries depleting food supply and even if this is the beginning it is sure to get worse. Any competent military understands the importance of the supply line and food supply. If you can’t eat you have to capitulate.
History: People living in the so called u.s during the time period known as the great depression had to resort heavily on wild harvest. Those of us who listened to our grandparents and paid attention to history know this to be true. When there was no honey one could raid bees nests for honey, only know the bees are in severe decline also due to colonialism. There was more open lands for picking berries and gathering roots and medicines. Now land is limited due to development and much is poisoned due to the colonists obsession with herbicide/pesticide. The dollar is collapsing and the effects will be way beyond the great depression. Anything that can be learned from history is beneficial. Crop failure lead to the end of Cahokia and contribute to the dawn of the Maya. It is important to remember the lessons of the past and continue to cultivate food security.
I.S.R is growing food to strengthen our indigenous government. This is a revolutionary act. If your not in an organization its just gardening. This is a basic foundation. To anyone who may have critiqued us saying all we are doing is growing food, my rebuttal would be at least we are getting our foundation in order and have an emphasis on mastering basics. Colonists came to this land starving and expecting us to feed them. It would be ironic if that happened again? Growing food will take some practice. A few failed major crops could spell a gigadeath. All of this depends on a healthy environment. #LandBack
“We cannot protect that 7th generation if we do not protect the earth”.
John Trudell
“They’re not food deserts they’re power deserts”
Chairman Omali Yeshitela
Illahee Spirit Runners 