A member of Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy and the Black Hills Alliance, Bill Means is not a stranger to issues of nature.
“The importance of the environment goes on every day in all communities,” Means said.
About 50 students and local residents met Monday night in Norris University Center’s McCormick Auditorium to hear Means, a Native American and environmental activist discuss current issues facing people in and out of the Native American community.
Means has served on the Grand Governing Council of the American Indian Movement since 1972. He also has worked with the United Nations on more than 500 Wounded Knee federal indictments.
Means said Native Americans bear the burden of many environmental problems in their sacred lands. Means said the fur trade was the first environmental disaster and logging was the next. He also said the destruction of land for gold began in the 1860s with Gen. George Armstrong Custer and became more apparent when William Randolph Hearst mined gold in the Black Hills.
In the 1950s the U.S. government tested atomic bombs in New Mexico. More recently, groups have talked of storing nuclear waste in Utah and Nevada.
These exploited areas are very important to Native Americans, Means said.
“Our Black Hills mean as much as Jerusalem means to Jews, Muslims, or Christians, or the Vatican means to the Roman Catholic Church,” he said.
Means stressed approaching the environment from a human rights perspective.
“Every human being has the right to clean water,” he said.
Means compared Einstein’s theory of relativity to humanity’s relationship with the earth. Einstein’s formula is the mathematical application of the notion that everything is related.
“We should all have respect for Mother Earth because we’re all related,” Means said.
In quoting a Native-American philosopher, he said,”The earth does not belong to man – man belongs to the earth.”
Though Means works hard to pass legislation in favor of Native Americans, he said he realizes the difficulty in completing such a task.
“Getting 187 nations to move as one is very difficult,” he said.
In other environmental issues, Means said that organic crops are preferred over those that are genetically engineered.
“Genetically engineered food may not be good for people with heart disease or diabetes,” he said.
Means also clarified myths surrounding the Native American community. He said the theories that indigenous people crossed the Bering Strait into the United States and that Columbus discovered America were false.
“There are still myths about who we are perpetuated in universities and high schools,” he said.
Means advised college students to work with people they would not ordinarily work with and to research environmental organizations to join.
“There are so many places to look, and if you search long enough you will find one,” he said. “It’s always nice to bring one or two friends along.”
Some students and local residents favored Means’ ideas.
“As a member of the Green Party, I’m in favor of environmental issues that affect health and community,” said Carl Schoby, an Evanston resident. “Means had a good presentation of how we can be.”
Organizers of the event said this year’s Mayfest speaker had a very different focus from last year’s.
“We brought Bill Means to campus to bridge Dillo Day with a cause that affects indigenous people and many all over the world,” said Ben Levin, Speech junior and Mayfest co-chairman.
