How Indigenous Guardians Protect the Planet and Humanity | Valérie Courtois | TED

翻译人员: Frank Cao 校对人员: Helen Chang

(In Ilnu-aimun: Hello).

（伊努族语：你们好）

I’m Valérie Courtois

我叫瓦莱里·库尔图瓦 （Valérie Courtois），

and I’m from the Ilnu community of Mashteuiatsh,

是麦什图耶什（Mashteuiatsh） 社区的伊努人（Ilnu），

located in Pekuakami or Lac Saint-Jean,

麦什图耶什毗邻佩库卡密（Pekuakami）， 或者圣-让湖（Lac Saint-Jean），

the heart of what is now known as Québec.

是如今魁北克州 （Québec）的核心地带。

It is an honor to be here with you tonight.

很荣幸能在今天加入你们。

A good friend and colleague of mine, the Honorable Ethel Blondin-Andrew,

我的好友兼同事，

尊敬的艾瑟尔·邦丁-安德鲁 （Ethel Blondin-Andrew），

the first Indigenous woman to be elected to Canada's parliament

第一位被票选入加拿大议会和内阁的

and to serve in cabinet,

原住民女性，

shared with me some wisdom she received:

分享给我了她所感悟到的哲理：

“A mark of a good leader

“所谓合格的领袖，

is if they leave a room filled with more hope

就是能从进来到离开，

than when they first arrived.”

给予一屋子人以更多希望的人。”

I'm here with you tonight to attempt to fulfill that aspiration.

今天，我也想通过和你们共处 试图实现这一点，

To leave you with hope.

给予你们希望。

We need it now more than ever.

现在，我们比以往都更需要希望。

Our home, our shared beautiful mother,

我们的家园，我们共同的美丽母亲，

our planet is experiencing ecological turmoil.

我们的星球， 正在遭遇一场生态浩劫。

We humans are transforming it to a point

我们人类正来到一个节点，

where we are risking the survival of millions of species.

一个置万千种生命于不顾的节点。

And as a result, our societies are also experiencing a parallel turmoil

而正因如此，我们的社会 也在经历一场平行的浩劫，

as we struggle to adapt to the unnatural pace

我们无法适应如此不自然的发展

and scale of change.

和急剧的改变。

My homelands, known as Nitassinan, are also experiencing these changes.

我的故土，又被称作 尼忒西兰（Nitassinan），

也正遭受这样的改变。

It is a harsh, but strikingly beautiful part of the boreal forest.

这里的针叶林自然条件恶劣， 但是风景绝美。

Nitassinan is at its best when it is cold.

尼忒西兰最好的时光是冬季。

Yet, we are seeing extreme changes in ice and in key species such as caribou.

然而，我们发现这里的冰层和像驯鹿 这样的关键种群都在急剧地变化。

When I first drove into Labrador two decades ago,

当我于二十年前首次自驾去 拉布拉多（Labrador）时，

I had to stop on the Trans-Labrador Highway for hours

我曾不得不停留在 跨拉布拉多高速上长达数小时，

as the George River caribou herd crossed.

刚好遇上乔治河驯鹿群穿过的时候。

There were hundreds of thousands in the herd then.

那时，鹿群中的驯鹿数不胜数。

Now, there are only 8,000 left.

而现在，这个数字只剩下了八千只。

I've seen firsthand the devastating impact of climate change

我曾亲眼目击气候变化造成如此毁灭，

and the loss of biodiversity in my homeland of Nitassinan

使我的家乡，尼忒西兰的 生物多样性丧失殆尽，

and all across what is now known as Canada.

对于如今的加拿大这片大地亦然。

But I’ve also seen something else,

但我所见的不仅如此，

something that gives me hope.

也有东西给予我希望。

It’s not a technology from a lab.

并非技术结晶，并非实验成果。

It’s not a policy made in Ottawa or DC.

也并非来自渥太华 或华盛顿特区当局的政策，

It is the fundamental understanding that is expressed by our knowledge,

而是亘古至今我们（民族）的知识，

by our elders and knowledge keepers this way:

藉由长老和智者，授予我们的常识：

If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us.

我们呵护大地，大地便养育我们。

Let me say it again.

让我重复一遍。

If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us.

我们呵护大地，大地便养育我们。

This is about a relationship,

这是一段关系，

a mutual love story.

一段共生共存的爱情故事。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

It's not an accident that 80 percent of the world's remaining biodiversity

这并不是巧合，

世界上百分之八十仍存有 生物多样性的大地

are located on lands managed and loved by Indigenous peoples.

是那些被原住民加以呵护的大地，

We have been in relationships with the plants and animals

我们和我们领地上的动物、植物，

of our territories and waters for millennia.

已经维持了数千年的（共生）关系。

We care for each other.

我们互相关心。

The Innu people have loved and sustained

伊努人早已热爱，维护了

and been in harmony with our landscapes for nearly 10,000 years.

与大地景观的和谐关系 几乎一万年。

Surely we have values, insights, strategies and knowledge to offer

毫无疑问，我们的价值观、 灵感、策略和知识足以让

to the rest of the global community with respect to how to be a part of

剩下的整个地球村受用， 帮助他们如何保护

and care for our environment.

和成为我们自然环境的一份子。

This knowledge is essential right now.

这种知识如今至关重要。

It can help people and the land heal from ecological crises and colonization.

它可以帮助人们和大地 从殖民和生态危机中恢复过来。

It can help restore the planet

它可以治愈地球，

and it can help save us all.

亦能治愈我们所有人。

By fully respecting and acknowledging Indigenous-led approaches to the land,

通过重视和尊敬 以原住民为主体的治土方法，

we can help create a better future for all.

我们能为所有人创造更好的未来。

What does it look like?

这是什么样的方法？

It looks like Indigenous Guardians.

就像原住民守林人一样。

So, you've heard of the "Guardians of the Galaxy?"

那么，你听说过“银河护卫队” 吗？

Well, these guardians are doing a much more important job right here on Earth,

守林人们也在地球上 执行同等重要的任务，

just without the soundtrack.

除了没有配乐。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Guardians are trained experts who work on behalf of their Indigenous nations.

这些守林人是身经百战的专家， 为他们所属的原住民国度而战。

They're our eyes and ears on the land.

他们是大地的千里眼和顺风耳。

They monitor water quality,

他们检测水质，

care for Indigenous-protected and conserved areas,

关爱原住民自治和保护的领地，

conduct research on climate impacts

研究气候变化，

and help restore species like caribou, salmon and moose.

和帮助恢复像驯鹿、 鲑鱼和驼鹿等等种群。

Their work is rooted in Indigenous and Western sciences

他们的工作根植于原生和西方科学，

and their training includes everything from GIS mapping

他们的训练包含 GIS （地理信息系统）导航的一切，

to spending time with elders and knowledge keepers.

和与（原住民）长老和智者交流。

We need this now more than ever.

我们比以往更需要这些。

Guardians also do something more personal.

守林人也需要做一些更私密的事情。

Time and again,

日复一日，

I've heard people say that being a guardian has changed their lives.

我听说成为守林人改变了 一些人的人生。

I think of the young Jarett Quock,

我想到了年轻的杰瑞特·拓克 （Jarett Quock），

a young man from the Tahltan First Nation

这位年轻人来自鞑尔坦 （Tahltan）第一国度，

in what is now known as British Columbia.

今天名谓“英属哥伦比亚”的土地。

Jarett used to be a heavy-equipment operator

杰瑞特曾是一位重型机械操作员，

working on job sites far from his community.

在远离他社群的地点工作。

He faced racism from non-Indigenous peoples

他受到了非原住民的种族歧视，

and non-unrelated,

而不无缘由地，

unfortunately, he struggled with addictions.

他不幸地成为了瘾君子， 并深受其害。

So when a job opened up with a Tahltan Wildlife Guardians,

因此，当鞑尔坦有 野外守林人的职业公招时，

he decided to take it.

他选择了申请。

He said,

他说：

"Being a guardian helped get me through the tough times in my life.

“”成为一名守林人 帮助我跨越了人生中的许多困境。

Being connected to the land and talking with elders

让我和大地联系在一起， 与长老的交流

helped me overcome my addictions.

也帮助我克服了上瘾。

It brought pride to me.

我感受到了荣耀。

And at the end of the day, I could walk away with the pride

而最终，我可以作为一名第一国族，

of being First Nations."

骄傲地离去。”

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

I know what he means.

我知道这件事的意义。

As a person who's been a witness to

作为一名目击者，

and felt the intergenerational trauma from the colonial experience

我能感受到殖民地经历之中， 那跨世代的，来自寄宿学校

and the horrors of residential schools or institutions,

和矫正机构的创伤，

where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes

原住民的孩子们 被强行从他们的家中带走，

and sent to so-called "schools"

然后送去这些所谓的“学校”灌输

to be indoctrinated into the dominant Canadian society,

加拿大社会的主流价值观，

I've found no better strategy to healing

而我无法不认为治愈，

than nurturing our relationship with our place.

比塑造更好地形容了 我们与大地的关系。

I've seen the healing powers of the land in action countless times.

我看见了无数次， 大地在不断地治愈自己

The land heals

大地能治愈自己，

and I wish that experience for anyone who has experienced and lives with trauma.

而我希望所有经受过， 或者正在经受创伤的人也能如此。

Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the leader I mentioned before,

我一开始讲的领袖， 艾瑟尔·邦丁-安德鲁，

runs training camps for guardians in the Northwest Territories.

在西北领地运营着 守林人的训练营地。

She says,

她说：

"Residential schools cause great grief and intergenerational trauma

“寄宿学校造就了许多悲伤， 也造就了跨世代的创伤，

because they taught us that we are not worthy of love."

因为它教会我们， 我们不值得被爱。”

But we are worthy of love.

但是我们值得。

The kids in our camps get it.

我们营地里的孩子们知道这点。

They know that being on the land is where they are the best human beings

他们知道。自己所处的这片大地 可以让他们力所能及地成为

that they can be.

最优秀的人类。

Researchers have documented the impacts of guardian programs.

研究学者们记录了 守林人项目带来的影响。

They can reduce incarceration and increase health and well-being.

他们可以减少禁闭， 增加物理健康和精神健康。

People's health improves on the land because they're on the land,

人们的健康在这片大地上改善了， 因为他们属于这片大地，

because they're physically active

因为他们行动活跃，

and because they're happy.

也因为他们快乐。

And guardians gained increased skills,

守林人获得了更娴熟的技能，

higher incomes and pride in cultural knowledge.

更可观的收入，还为他们的 文化知识而自豪。

In fact, one study in 2016 documented the impacts of those guardian programs

实际上，2016 年的一项研究 表明了守林人项目的影响，

and showed that for every dollar invested, there's a return on that investment

它发现了每向项目中投入一美元，

of 2.5 dollars in social, economic and environmental benefits.

收获的社会、经济 和环境收益是 2.5 美元。

With sustained funding,

通过持续的基金投入，

that return on investment jumps to almost four dollars.

投资的回报还可以增至近 4 美元。

That's why that I believe that Indigenous programs could do more for healing

这也是为什么我相信， 原住民项目可以为

from the impacts of colonialism than any other individual program.

减少殖民主义的影响， 比其他的个人项目贡献更多。

Guardians help honor our responsibility of the land

守林人帮助我们向 我们对大地的责任致敬，

and they can create a better future for all.

而他们可以为所有人 创造更好的未来。

Because guardianship isn't just good for guardians,

这是因为守林人的职位 并不只对守林人有益，

it's good for everyone

它对所有人都大有裨益，

because the land is taking care of guardians

正如大地予守林人以关怀，

and guardians are taking care of the land.

守林人也予以回报。

Guardians help care for some of the healthiest,

守林人帮助保护了这片大陆上， 一些最健康，最生机勃勃的土地。

most vibrant lands on the continent.

Many work in the boreal forest

他们很多人在针叶林中工作，

which stretches from Alaska to Newfoundland.

地点横跨阿拉斯加和纽芬兰岛。

It is one of the largest intact forests left on the planet.

这是这个星球上现存 最完整的树林之一。

Having guardians on the ground will help us sustain so many species

分布于这片土地上的守林人将 帮助我们保存如此多的种群，

like caribou, salmon, moose, wolverine, lynx, songbirds,

就像驯鹿、鲑鱼、驼鹿、 狼獾、猞猁、各种鸣禽、

medicinal plants and countless other species --

各种药用植物和无数的其他种群——

species that are unfortunately threatened in much of the rest of the world.

世界上其他不幸被波及濒危的种群。

They also help protect some of the largest protected areas

这也保护了一些地球上 最大的保护区。

on the planet.

You may not know this,

你或许不知道，

but some of the biggest, most ambitious plans to protect areas in Canada

但是一些规模最庞大，最野心勃勃的 加拿大保护区的计划

are led by Indigenous peoples.

由原住民领导。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

Many of them, they're creating Indigenous protected and conserved areas.

他们中的很多人 打造了由原住民保护和自治的区域。

These areas that they create based on their own laws and cultures

他们创造的这些区域 由他们自己的法律和文化来运作，

and often in partnerships with Crown governments,

并且经常与皇家政府，

or Canadian governments, for the Americans in the room.

对在场的美国（中国）朋友说， 也就是加拿大政府。

You know, in fact,

你知道吗，其实，

three of these areas alone in the Northwest Territories

仅位于西北领地的三个区域，

span 50,000 square kilometers in size.

就有绵延五万平方千里的土地。

That's about the size of Costa Rica.

这堪比一整个哥斯达黎加。

The Kaska Dena in northern British Columbia

位于英属哥伦比亚以北的 喀斯卡·甸尼（Kaska Dena）正在

are planning to create a protected area the size of Switzerland.

计划建立一个瑞士大小的保护区。

And in northern Manitoba,

而在曼尼托巴州 （Manitoba）以北，

four Dene and Cree nations are coming together

四个甸尼和克里国族戮力同心

to protect the Seal River Watershed,

保护锡河分水岭（Seal River Watershed），

home to caribou, belugas, polar bears

驯鹿、白鲸、北极熊，

and thousands of songbirds.

和数千鸣禽的家园

It will be nearly five times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

这将会是黄石国家公园的五倍大。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

There are dozens of protected areas in the works right now,

与此同时，整个加拿大 还有许多保护区域正在发展起来，

right across Canada.

Many of them will protect some of the largest carbon storehouses

它们大部分都会成为 这个星球上碳中和最庞大的储备，

of any terrestrial ecosystem on the planet.

大于任何生态系统。

Remember when I said that my homeland is at its best when it was cold?

还记得我说过， 我的家园最好的季节是冬季吗？

Well, its ability to capture and store carbon over centuries

自然是因为冬季保证了数世纪以来

is insured by that cold,

树林的碳中和能力，

because when organic matter and litter fall to the ground,

因为当有机物和废物进入了土地，

it decomposes extremely slowly in its very deep soils.

它只能在黑暗中慢慢降解。

In fact, the boreal forest holds twice as much carbon

事实上，以每公顷为单位， 针叶林储备了的碳含量

as the world's tropical forests per hectare.

是世界上雨林的两倍。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

Yeah, go boreal!

走，去针叶林！

(Laughter)

（笑声）

This is why I'm here.

这就是我在这的原因。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

That protected area in the Seal River Watershed I mentioned,

我刚才提到的锡河分水岭

it holds 1.7 billion tons of carbon

储存了十七亿吨的碳，

equivalent to eight years’ worth of greenhouse-gas emissions alone --

相当于仅八年量的温室气体排放——

in Canada alone.

仅仅是加拿大的排放量。

Protecting the watershed will help keep that carbon in place.

保护分水岭能够 将这些碳保留在原地。

These are the kind of lands that guardians are caring for.

这便是守林人所呵护的土地。

They also help heal and restore places.

他们也帮助了恢复和重塑一些土地。

The Innu guardians, for example,

举个例子，伊努族的守林人们

they help care for and monitor the largest nickel mine in the world

帮助看护位于拉布拉多翁西港 （Voisey’s Bay）的

at Voisey's Bay in Labrador.

世界上最大的镍矿。

Guardians help ensure that when development occurs,

守林人们帮助确立了建设开始时

it happens with the informed consent of our nations.

我们国族的知情权，

That projects do not have an adverse effect on our rights and titles.

因此我们的权利和名誉 就不会受到负面的影响。

And that our nations and communities can benefit or maximize those benefits

而当我们的国度和社区将受益于， 并且最大地受益于

from those development activities.

这些发展的项目。

Whether they are monitoring the largest nickel mine in the world

不管他们所看护的 是不是世界上最大的镍矿，

or sustaining giant carbon storehouses,

抑或是保护巨型的碳中和储备。

guardians are helping honor our responsibility to the land.

守林人在重申他们 对这片土地的责任。

And the benefits, they ripple far and wide.

至于益处， 它们一石激起千层浪。

As Gloria Enzo, a Ni Hat’Ni Dene guardian from the Northwest Territory says,

就如葛洛丽亚·恩佐（Gloria Enzo）,

一位西北领地的尼哈里 （Ni Hat’Ni）甸尼守林人说：

"We are sustaining our traditional territories

“我们不仅在为自己

not only for us,

保护传统的领地，

but for the whole world."

而是为了全世界。”

By honoring and respecting Indigenous-led approaches to the land,

通过重视和尊敬 以原住民为主体的治土方法，

we can create a better future for all.

我们为所有人开辟了更好的未来。

You know, there's a role for everyone in this model.

你知道吗，在这个模式中， 所有人都有一个职责。

Every person, family, community, nation is essential to dealing with the crises

任何个人、家庭、社区、国家 都是治理危机的主力军，

that we're facing as peoples and as a planet.

因为我们以人类的身份， 以星球的身份面对这个危机。

All actions, big and small,

所有行动，不论大小，

that contribute to addressing these challenges

都会汇集成各种挑战，

will help us get closer to that goal.

也都会让我们达成我们的目标。

In fact,

实际上，

I'd like to ask you to join Indigenous peoples

我希望在座的各位 也能加入我们原住民的行动，

in helping protect and create a better future,

加入保护和创造美好未来的行动中。

one where we are ensuring our collective futures

这是一个确保我们作为人类，

as peoples on this planet.

在这个星球上集体生存的未来。

There is so much that we can do together.

我们在一起有许多事可做。

Specifically,

详细来说，

study the history of Indigenous nations with traditional territories

研究在你工作或生活的地方的

in the places where you live and work.

那些原住民国族的历史。

Talk with non-Indigenous friends about Indigenous leadership on the land.

向你的非原住民朋友们讲述 原住民领导的土地治理。

Create space for Indigenous voices and uplift them.

创造为原住民发声的空间， 鼓励他们发声。

Hold up our communities and respect our knowledge systems.

提升我们社区的地位， 理解我们特殊的知识体系。

Make sure that you are using your political voices

确保你运用你的政治权利，

and voting for leaders who support this vision,

去申援那些支持这种愿景的领导人，

because Indigenous guardians can ensure

这都是因为原住民守林人可以确保

that we all have the future on this planet that we deserve and want,

我们在这个星球上 值得和想要的未来可以被实现，

so that we can all continue to have an evolving love story

以此类推，我们可以通过我们的手，

with our lands, with our waters that we call home.

持续那进化着的，我们 与大地及水源的爱情故事。

We can all heal the planet

我们可以治愈地球，

by drawing on the knowledge of our ancestors

通过将我们祖先的知识运用于现实，

and blending them with the best tools of the modern world.

将他们与现代的先进工具结合起来。

If we take care of the land,

我们呵护大地，

the land will take care of us forever.

大地便养育我们，直到永远。

(In Ilnu-aimun: Thank you).

（伊努语：谢谢）

(Applause)

（鼓掌）