Historically, the people of each land base have been an integral element of that place’s life. We need only examine the ecologically adaptive cultures of indigenous populations to witness this. In the dominant culture, we have lost our way. We have been raped and pillaged off of our lands and forced to occupy others. This has been done through deception, exploitation, consumption, profiteering and ongoing oppression. At the end of the day, however, we have detached ourselves from the very land that provides life and we no longer know a home.
There is a resurgence of bioregional ism that extends across many lands. Many people are listening to the bioregion where they reside and initiating community once again. Voices from all walks of life acknowledge that we are infinitely dependent upon nature for survival, and many are questioning loudly why we continue down this path of suicide.
Every place on Earth exists within a bioregion. A bioregion is defined by the organic patterns and natural characteristics of a specific place. It is the unique hydrologic cycles, the watershed, the land base, the soils, the very flora and fauna that weave its whole together. Its periphery is not defined by any arbitrary line, but by the rhythms that encompass it. Cascadia is a land of falling waters. Cascadia extends from northern California to southern Alaska. It reaches inland from the Continental Divide of western Montana and expands to the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. It includes all of Washington and portions of Oregon, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Alaska, Alberta, Montana and Wyoming. For indepth analysis please refer to the Cascadia Institute.
Caveat: I, Ten Bears, have long been involved in this effort, contribute to the aforementioned Cascadia (Sightline) Institute, and the title of my forth-coming book is Where the Salmon Berry Grow – Cascadia – A Place Apart. Why “Brave New War”? Because there is nothing east of The Rocky Mountains we need.