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online 10/27/08. http://www.cnps.org/cnps/forestry/larson.php </ref>.  
online 10/27/08. http://www.cnps.org/cnps/forestry/larson.php </ref>.  


At the [[Potawot]] Indian Health Village, manual weed thinning and seasonal burning are used to keep weeds and invasive species out of the area. <ref name="Interview with Eric Johnson">Eric Johnson: Personal Communication. United Indian Health Services. 10/14/08 </ref> This is now common practice in Northern California, but roadside spraying still takes place in other counties and states.
At the [[Potawot]] Indian Health Village, manual weed thinning and seasonal burning are used to keep weeds and invasive species out of the area. <ref name="Interview with Eric Johnson">Eric Johnson: Personal Communication. United Indian Health Services. 10/14/08 </ref> There is also the [[Potawot Basket Weaving Demonstration Area]] which exhibits many native basket materials. The plants are grown without organically and the area is used for educational purposes.


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 02:18, 8 December 2008

Template:115inprogress


Basket Weaving and Pesticide Use

Figure 1: Basket Weaving [1]

In the Native American basket weaving process (Figure 1), the artists handle the plants and materials in many stages. Baskets are used for harvesting, storage, and even as cradles for children. The basket-makers gather the plants, prepare the dies, and peel the bark with their teeth. When the materials used have been sprayed with toxic pesticides, the artists are in danger of contact with and even ingestion of these harmful chemicals.

While making baskets, the artists moisten the ends of sticks with their mouths, or hold materials in their teeth. This kind of pesticide ingestion can increase the likelihood of developing cancer on the lips and mouth. [2]

Common herbicides sprayed along roadsides and in national forests are atrazine, glyphosate and 2,4-D [2] which is known to cause cancer in dogs. The toxic Agent Orange used in Vietnam is a mixture of the last two chemicals. These poisonous herbicides are often sprayed along roadsides across the country to control invasive weeds. They are so toxic that the handlers must wear protective suits when mixing the chemicals (Figure 2).

Native tribes in Humboldt County such as the Wiyot, Yurok, and Hoopa have all been affected by herbicide spraying on public lands. The Hoopa banned pesticide use on their reservation in 1978 and many other tribes have followed suit.

Impacts of Pesticides

Figure 2: Herbicide Preparation [3]

Exposure to pesticides can cause allergic reactions, rashes, swelling of skin, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing among many other ailments. Sometimes the symptoms are similar to the flu, so they often go unreported. Incredibly toxic herbicides, like Agent Orange, are known to cause cancer and heart disease. [4]

Along the lower Klamath River, timber companies have been using herbicides to eliminate weeds during reforestation for many years. The Yurok downstream of this water shed have reported sicknesses in birds and honeybees, as well as tumors in deer meat. They have also reported high rates of cancer and respiratory diseases.

Programs to Reduce Roadside Spraying

Figure 3: Herbicide Spraying [3]

Roadside spraying of herbicides (Figure 3) was once common in Humboldt County, but it is now banned thanks to the California Basket-weavers Association (CIBA)[2]. Herbicides were sprayed by Caltrans to eliminate weeds along highways and by the Forest Service in Nation Forests. Protests against spraying began in 1972, and after years of raising awareness and lobbying, Caltrans can no longer spray along roadsides in most Northern counties. It is up to individual counties whether spraying will be allowed or not. Humboldt, Lake, Del Norte, and Mendocino counties have banned roadside herbicide use so far. Instead they mow the weeds and use manual labor to remove certain invasive plants. This process costs more than herbicide spraying. Manual trimming costs vary based on the area, the number of people needed, and the hours worked. Herbicides costs are based on the area sprayed, but usually only one worker is needed.

CIBA is currently working to eliminate herbicide use in National Forests. Several parks have stopped spraying chemicals, but others continue to do so against the wishes of Native Americans. Other organizations involved in the protest against herbicides include the Sierra Club, the Forest Issues Group, and the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society [5].

At the Potawot Indian Health Village, manual weed thinning and seasonal burning are used to keep weeds and invasive species out of the area. [4] There is also the Potawot Basket Weaving Demonstration Area which exhibits many native basket materials. The plants are grown without organically and the area is used for educational purposes.

References

  1. Public Domain via Wikipedia . Accessed online 11/12/08. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Woman_weaving_baskets_near_Lake_Ossa.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ongoing Work by CIBA. California Indian Basketweavers Association. Accessed online 10/26/08. http://www.ciba.org/ongoing.html#wliminate
  3. 3.0 3.1 Public Domain via Wikipedia. Accessed online 11/12/08. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hazardous-pesticide.jpg Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Pesticides" defined multiple times with different content
  4. 4.0 4.1 Eric Johnson: Personal Communication. United Indian Health Services. 10/14/08
  5. Foresty Program. California Native Plant Society. Accessed online 10/27/08. http://www.cnps.org/cnps/forestry/larson.php

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