Indigenous Environmental Studies in Preserving and Conserving Nature - Book Report/Review Example

Indigenous Environmental Studies The Indigenous Environmental Studies provide ample importance to the role of indigenous population in preserving and conserving nature. Within this scenario, the initiative undertaken by the native population in different nations is utmost important. The work All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life, by Winona LaDuke, the world renowned writer and environmental activist, examines the role of Native population in preserving the flora and fauna of North America and Canada. Thesis statement: The critical assessment of the work All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life, by Winona LaDuke proves that the Natives play the most important role in preserving nature, but the implementation of preservation techniques and conservation techniques is the best possible way to save the whole world. Critical assessment: The critical assessment is divided into four sections: Is the work a good source for Indigenous Environmental Studies or not, the strengths and weaknesses of the work, recommend this work or not, and useful or not. A. Is the work a good source for Indigenous Environmental Studies or not This work can be considered as a good source for Indigenous Environmental Studies because it explores the harmonious relationship between Native Indians and the Mother Nature. Within the context of Indigenous Environmental Studies, one can see that human encroachment upon nature resulted in the disappearance of natural vegetation and indigenous population in North America and Canada. From a different angle of view, cultural diversity and biodiversity are interconnected. When the indigenous population is forced to face extinction, the cultural diversity of the society is under imminent threat. On the other side, the Native American territories provide ample importance to the preservation of biodiversity. Besides, this work provides ample importance to the Native American awareness which exhibits their relationship with the natural world. At the same time, this work evaluates the importance of Native environmentalism within the scenario of Indigenous Environmental Studies. This work is able to create awareness among the mass on the importance of the preservation of nature and conservation of resources for the future generations. Besides, this work unearths the political and spiritual aspects of environmental activism. In this work, the statements by Native environmental activists prove that it is the collective responsibility of the human beings to preserve the ecological balance of nature. In short, this work acts the role of an eye opener to those who are totally ignoring the importance of nature in human life. So, the work All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life by Winona LaDuke is a good source for Indigenous Environmental Studies. B. The strengths and weaknesses of the work The most important strength of this work is that the author is an environmental activist who belongs to a tribal community named as Anishinaabveg (Chippewa Nation). So, one can see that this work represents the hardships faced by the native population in the American continent. Besides, the narrative style made use by the writer is helpful to have easier understanding of the cultural and environments problems faced by the natives. Within this context, this work is the deep analysis of the initiative undertaken by the natives to survive in the modern world. LaDuke (1999) states that, “In the final analysis, the survival of Native America is fundamentally about the collective survival of all human beings” (p.5). The writer did not neglect the experiences of the female members of the native population. At the same time, the work can be considered as a conscious initiative to preserve the native culture. This work does not ponder upon the past glory of the natives in America and Canada. Instead, the author raises a number of questions on the scope of native culture in the present condition. Besides, the writer tries to examine and evaluate the consequences of colonization of the American continent by the European seafarers. The author’s evaluation is helpful to expose the role of human encroachment (mining, exploitation of natural resources and dumping waste materials) in ecological degradation. The most important weakness of this work is that the author totally ignored the relationship between ecological degradation and development. In the present condition, preservation of nature cannot be considered as a wise decision. At the same time, initiative must be taken to conserve the nature. On the other side, the authorities must not consider the reserved areas as dump yards. Besides, the author does not offer any quick solution to the problem. The author provided importance to the opinion of the natives, but totally ignored the view points of the dominant race. The author provides less importance to the scope of cultural amalgamation between the natives and the settlers. Still, this work does not ignore the importance of environmental activism to preserve and conserve natural vegetation. C. Recommend this work or not I recommend this work because it is most helpful for the students to have deeper understanding of the grass root level reason behind the problems faced by the Native Indians in North America and Canada. Besides, this work portrays the Native resistance through the fight against ecological and cultural humiliation and marginalization. At the same time, this work consists of firsthand account of the members of aboriginal population in America and Canada. Within the context of environmental activism and Indigenous Environmental Studies, this work is important because it explores almost all the levels of the field of study. So, I recommend this work. D. Useful or not The usefulness of a work is decided by its value within a particular field. The work All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life by Winona LaDuke is valuable because the after effect of environmental degradation is applicable to all. Besides, this work acts the role of an eye opener to the multinational corporations and the policy makers. From a different angle of view, the scope of this work cannot be limited to the context of aboriginal population in the American continent because it provides valuable lessons to preserve and conserve nature and resources. So, this work is useful for the humanity to have deeper understanding on the importance of nature. Summing, the work All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life by Winona LaDuke explores the history of the different Native tribes in North America and Canada, and their attempt to preserve their cultural identity in the modern world. In addition, this work is a good source for Indigenous Environmental Studies because it deals with the deep relationship between the tribal population and nature. At the same time, the strengths of this work outdo the weaknesses because it contains the firsthand experience of the victims. In short, this work acts the role of an eye opener to the global community because amalgamation of preservation of nature and wise exploitation of resources is important for the survival of human race. References LaDuke, W. (1999). All our relations: native struggles for land and life. Cambridge, MA: South End Press. Read More