I always wonder why restoration ecologists basically never talk about or to people whose management and culture maintained the “original” ecosystem(s) that they’re trying to restore.

If your restoration ecology isn’t centered on Indigenous empowerment, is it really restorative?

Those ecosystems are not the overromanticized colonial ideal of “wilderness untouched by human hand” or whatever.

Those are carefully managed, delicately balanced, conscientiously attended communities with which whole (even many) Nations were in equipoise.

How come you all will cite Euro-tradition white people, who only know narrow contexts of ecological communities ~once their culture (s) began to heavily disrupt the balance...

...and ignore the people who whose cultures are endlessly intertwined w the existence of those systems?

How isn’t it racism to axiomatically as part of your science, erase entire swaths of humanity from your mind and the mind of everyone you teach?

How is it not white supremacy to pretend this whole continent was empty and “untouched” waiting to be used and studied by Europeans?

I have a PhD in ecology—do you know how many times I’ve ever seen any ecologist (restoration or otherwise) reference Indigenous land management as relevant—especially in a talk?

Fewer than 10.

I’ve ~never~ seen anyone do it as something other than a fun throwaway.

All you prairie restoration ecologists...maybe you’re just out there talking to every other Plains Nation but mine, but I don’t think any of you have ever considered collaboration with the Kaw. Nor approached us.

How is that, probabalistically, anything other than racism.

You’re really out there trying to replicate a very complex system that

~other people successfully built and manages for many thousands of years~

That your way of life destroyed in less than 200

And you won’t talk to us or even acknowledge us.

That’s messed up.

I hope you can all see how laughable this makes your work.

As in, I have to laugh or I’ll cry.

It’s your goal and your context and your entire life’s work and you’re so anti-Indigenous that you’d rather do it badly than include us.

I know that’s going to hurt some feelings. People don’t like to be called anti-Indigenous.

Look at the data, though.

We aren’t included. You don’t include us.

It’s jaw-droppingly obvious that we know stuff you don’t.

Occam’s razor says it’s anti-Indigenous bias.

So I dunno what to tell you, but maybe if you don’t like that the data say this, you could focus on changing what data are available (by creating new data), rather than getting mad at me for telling you obvious conclusions.

If, you know. You want to.

You may or may not have seen an Indigenous person talk about how colonizers care more about their feelings, or charismatic species, or their favorite camping spot...than they do about Native people’s basic human rights.

This exclusion is one example of why.

If you REALLY care about your favorite national park...or species...or climate change...

...like REALLY care...

...and we KNOW that Indigenous practices are what allowed it to become that place or distribution or continent or world that you love...

...how much do you have to hate us...

...to want it to perish, instead of listen to us. Include us. Acknowledge our expertise and thousands-of-years-successful traditions and practices?

A lot of us look at that and figure, well...

...It must be a lot, that you hate us.

There isn’t really another answer.

Otherwise we would already be included.

If I could change one thing about the culture of academic science — just one.

I’d change how so many scientists believe that not engaging with discomfort constitutes neutrality, and thus, objectivity.

It’s not objective, to not raise your hand or choice to check violent and hateful ideology.

It’s not neutral, to step aside so the powerful can posture in front of the mirror.

It’s not neutral, to continue to erase Indigenous relevance to ecological communities.

It’s a continuation of harm. It’s the path of no resistance.

Of not resisting the harmful things built right into academia and mainstream Euro-tradition academia.

I hope you decide to resist the temptation to do nothing. To follow conventions that don’t serve your greater goal.

I hope you decide to work to remove the unthinking hate that drives the academy to erase our existence.

It’s part of your work.

No, it is.

It’s part of mine, as hard as I try.

That decision, made and committed to, would strengthen us all.

It might even stop the world burning.

I hope you choose the harder path.

I hope you do it soon.

For all of us, I hope this.

If you liked this thread then please follow and donate to @UnistotenCamp—they are bravely and nonviolently protecting their lands and their sovereignty against violent police and need your help.

If you want more threads, check out my pinned thread and follow if you want.

I guess this addendum is necessary, even though it really shouldn't be. https://twitter.com/cricketcrocker/status/1228423262809600000?s=20