a path for San Diego

By Joely Proudfit / San Diego Union-Tribune OpEd / April 18, 2024

Earth Day serves as a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to the planet. In San Diego, where the beauty and biodiversity of our environment are as important to our identity as the cityscape itself, this day provides an opportunity not only to celebrate, but also to reflect deeply and learn – especially from the indigenous communities that inhabited these lands. for millennia.

The Kumeyaay, Payómkawichum, Kuupangaxwichem, and Ipai peoples, along with other indigenous groups across the continent, have demonstrated a deep understanding of sustainable living long before the term entered our modern lexicon. For these communities, sustainability was not just a practice, but a necessity, deeply rooted in their culture and daily life. They lived within the boundaries of their ecosystems and embodied an ethic in which taking too much was not only frowned upon; it was culturally repugnant because it endangered the well-being of future generations. This principle, often called the ‘seven generations principle’, ensures that the needs of the present do not compromise those of the future.

Such a worldview stands in stark contrast to the mentality of European colonists, who historically positioned humans as rulers rather than stewards of the Earth. This attitude paved the way for technological advances that, while impressive, often ignored the long-term impact on our planet – and contributed significantly to the climate crisis we face today.

The technology that emerged from Europe in the age of exploration and colonization was shaped by a drive for domination and control, not sustainability. This approach has led to a neglect of the broader, lasting impacts of human actions on ecosystems and the climate. Today, as we grapple with the reality of climate change, it is imperative that we rethink not only our technologies, but also the fundamental questions driving their development. What if our scientific and policy frameworks prioritized impacts on future generations, much like the Indigenous principle of considering the seventh generation?

Here in San Diego, we can learn a lot from indigenous communities about resilience and environmental stewardship. The California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC) believes that our colleagues in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can benefit greatly from Indigenous knowledge and practices. This is not about fetishizing or tokenizing indigenous peoples, but about truly integrating their sustainable practices and worldviews into modern environmental management and scientific research.

Indigenous practices such as cultural fire management, which uses fire to manage vegetation and reduce the risk of wildfire, and sustainable basketry, which requires the regeneration of natural materials, provide practical lessons in living with the resources of our environment. These methods, disrupted by colonial processes, are now slowly being reintegrated into land management practices, showing promising results in both ecological and cultural recovery.

In San Diego, our efforts to embrace these practices are beginning to pay off. Projects that integrate traditional ecological knowledge not only help restore landscapes, but also provide a blueprint for how modern societies can live in harmony with nature. By integrating indigenous principles, we can develop technologies and policies that truly respect and support the Earth.

As we celebrate Earth Day, let’s commit to a deeper partnership with the original custodians of these lands. Let’s embrace a sustainability model that has been proven for thousands of years, right here on the land we now call San Diego. The knowledge of the Kumeyaay, Payómkawichum, Kuupangaxwichem, Ipai and other indigenous peoples offers us a beacon of hope and a path forward in our quest for true sustainability and combating the effects of climate change.

By fostering a dialogue between indigenous communities and modern science, and by truly integrating the lessons of sustainable living into our city’s policies and practices, San Diego can lead the way in creating a future where technology and nature coexist each other exist in mutual respect and benefit. This Earth Day, let us pledge not only to celebrate these age-old lessons, but to actively integrate them into our collective journey toward a sustainable future.

Proudfit (Payómkawichum and Tongva) is professor and chair of the Department of American Indian Studies and director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at Cal State San Marcos. She lives in San Diego County.