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I have not changed my position on
this project. As an employee of the tribe and father of Passamaquoddy
children who are all opposed to the project, I am caught in between. I
don't want to support my kids forever.
I
am trying to convince my children that this is their heritage and we all
have to make our decisions. This is the reason I did not speak for my
children during this time. The majority has spoken and voted, it must be
respected unless another voice is raised.
I am trying to have an open
mind and mostly debate that the LNG terminal is what the tribe needs to
survive as a sovereign nation. I am a Navajo from AZ. I see tradition and
culture differently from my Passamaquoddy contacts.
Navajos find ways to adapt
and adopt. Tradition and culture gets meshed into it too. Take for example
the wool rugs and silver-turquoise jewelry that the Navajos are known
for. The Navajos wouldn’t have this to be recognized for if my ancestors
feared working with silver or let alone raising livestock. Historically,
the Navajos were nomadic and have a sense of adventure in them. This
probably explains how I’ve ended up in Maine.
Other energy alternatives
can only happen if the tribe has money to invest in them. I think the
tribe should insist that the LNG investors also consider studying and
financing a wind farm for the area. In Maine, electric companies accept
donations to start looking at alternative energy. I know this because I
donate one dollar every month. Its a drop in the bucket.
Likewise, the tribe
should ask the LNG investors to donate some capital to start up some wind
farms. Maybe the tribe can start looking at solar as soon as it starts
making money on the LNG project. Although, current wind and solar
technology are not economically feasible, investments need to continue
to study and improve on the technologies.
Another concern is what will happen to
the site as soon the terminal ceases to operate.The tribe must make sure
that the investors open an remediation account that is managed
independently. This account would be used to offset costs to remove the
structures and return Passamaquoddy Bay to its natural state. The
independent firm hired to manage this account must be not aligned with the
tribal government or the investors. The firm would have to report every
six months to the tribal community on the status and if there are any
problems.
My kids don't want the terminal because
it scares them that it might blow them away from the land they love so
much. My six year son was so scared that he cried the night after the
community voted in favor of the project. I had to reassure him that I
didn't see the terminal exploding on such a grand scale.
I tell my kids that they need to look
forward to careers and if they want to stay and hold on to what makes them
Passamaquoddy, they have to stay and adapt. I think it is hard to make a
living and retain culture and language. I left the Navajo Indian
Reservation because they are not enough jobs and unemployment is very high. I
had to move away and try to adopt and adapt.
Again, I am open to any
discussion and would like to post opinions on the LNG proposal on SIPAYIK.COM.
MC
webmaster@sipayik.com
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