Environment In The News

Ever found yourself day dreaming about what it might have been like to live as a Native American before European discovery of North America? Likely you would have imagined yourself living harmoniously and peacefully alongside an untouched wilderness. Well, think again, because you've been duped by the pervasive and attractive ideology of the "pristine myth." The truth is that Native Americans vastly altered their local environments, just as we continue to do today. Even modern Native Americans utilize and exhaust resources in a way that can significantly degrade the natural landscape. However, there has been a recent attempt by some Navajos in Arizona to restore a degraded landscape to a more pristine state. Rather than using coal as the primary source of energy, the Navajos will utilize wind and solar power. Could this be an attempt to return to an internalized and adopted notion of the "pristine myth," or is this just a prudent economical move?



Decide for yourself after reading this NYTimes ARTICLE.