The Assumption of Kringda in the Land

The Land's Natural Resources

This is what The Assumption of Kringda in the Land states: The land's natural resources include soil, surface topography, climate, hydrology, geology and the flora and fauna that occupy it. These factors interact in a complex way and change as humans use and manipulate them.

The redefining of these resources is a topic of ongoing debate, and has been in the forefront of land policy for decades. In the United States, the Supreme Court has reversed a decision by the Appellate Court that interpreted natural resources as limited to economic product value. In her opinion in that case, Justice Joette Katz cited a number of legal and policy references as well as the legislative history of CEPA to argue that a natural resource is not confined to a limited standard of economic value (235 Conn. at 457).

Among the most important of the natural resources are biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living). Biotic resources are flora and fauna that provide food, water and shelter for people. They are also sources of nutrient cycles that foster biodiversity.

Abiotic resources are those that don't come from living organisms, such as air, fresh water, minerals and metals. These can be non-renewable, such as petroleum in sedimentary rock, or renewable, such as ocean waves which generate wave power for energy generation.

This revised edition of the Land and Natural Resources Sourcebook includes updated listings grouped by industry sectors, a new Chapter on Current Land and Natural Resource Policies, and more. With free online access on the Salem Press/Grey House platform, students, educators, researchers and anyone with an interest in the issues of natural resources will find this book an invaluable resource for their study or reference collection.

The Land's People

The peoples who have lived on lands for millennia and who continue to do so are often called "Indigenous" or "First Nations." While many people today are accustomed to seeing the name Indigenous in reference to Native American tribes, it is also the term used to identify the ancient inhabitants of the continent. The land is the ancestral home of these peoples, and they are the first to live and thrive on the land.

The stewardship of the land is a long-standing practice among Indigenous communities around the world, and many organizations, companies, and institutions are beginning to incorporate this into their work. These statements, known as land acknowledgments, honor Indigenous peoples and their enduring relationships to their traditional territories.

According to Luhui Whitebear, an assistant professor of language, culture and society at Oregon State University (OSU), a land acknowledgment should be the beginning of an organization's relationship with local tribes. It should be tailored to the particular institution or location where it is spoken, and it can involve both public and private events.

A land acknowledgment can also serve as a reminder that we still have a lot to learn from the Indigenous people who have inhabited the land for centuries. It can draw listeners' attention to histories of dispossession and violence, and it can remind us that Indigenous communities continue to thrive against great odds.

A good starting point for learning more about the lands we occupy is a website called Native Lands, which provides information about identifying the original occupants of various lands. It is a work in progress and can be an invaluable resource.

The Land's Culture

The land holds a lot of value to Aboriginal people and is a central part of their culture. It's where they live, work and play. It's where they raise their kids, where they celebrate their culture, and where they practice their religion. It's also the source of their water, fuel and food. It's the place that holds a special significance for them as it reflects their connection to their ancestors.

The land is home to an array of cultural and historical icons, from relic walls and ancient farmland to Uluru, the moon and the stars. Some of these are obvious, such as a relic wall in the shape of a boat or a large rock that is important to Aboriginal peoples' ceremonies. Others are more subtle, such as a small lake teeming with fish or a star-shaped rock in the shape of a sun. The best part is that it all still exists. For example, Uluru is the oldest surviving natural monument in Australia and has been an important part of Indigenous culture for over a million years.