Steve Lawson

First Nations Environmental Network

Today's Date: October 25th, 2006

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Whales, bears and wolves. These are friends of ours. There are many stories about our interaction with these beings but in all the cases, they came to us for help. We spend a lot of time with them all in the wild and on the ocean here. We fought for the old growth forest sanctuaries which are habitat to so much to stop the logging but it is ongoing. What we do impacts everything and the animals know your intentions and it comes full circle. To be comfortable in this world, and that doesn't mean not being careful or cautious, one needs to have good relationships with all our relations.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Always loved the natural areas away from populations, industry and unnatural noise.

Now? The intact rivers where industry and resource extraction and human intrusion hasn't destroyed its essence. Especially in fall with the wild salmon and bears.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?

Favorite animal at this moment is wolf.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, human destruction of the forest cover of the earth and pollution of ocean plants that contribute oxygen, humans disassociation with the natural world out of greed and fear. and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future? alleviating fear and destruction, transforming fear into love

5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Stop the destruction. Live in right relationship and love it. Find a way to connect with the natural world and make decisions based accordingly.