Cambridge Forum; WGBH Forum Network; Creativity and Mood

How did the path for many indigenous peoples leads back to a connection with the land. And the life it sustained. St. Paul Island is the home of the. First season. Every summer they return to these beaches to bring their pups and you don't want. In the spring before the SEALs arrive you can pick up their scent on these rocks a smell that has guided them to this spot for thousands of years. Everything we do right now here in the Bering Sea we do it because of where we are more than because of who we are. Our clothing our transportation our song our language our all products are about by wind and environment. That's all. Tons of trash from the fishing industry washes up on these beaches. Most of it comes from far away places Asia and even South America.

Sometimes SEALs get tangled up in it and die seals that are an important part of the diet. The lady's parents well you crave you crave for us steak don't you. OK that's the kind of a feeling I have. Oh I wish I had you know. But I'm satisfied after a lot of times my mom would say oh you will never be hungry. This is a village determined never to go hungry. Every Spring St. Paul's tribal council put students to work cleaning up these beaches to help keep seals and other wildlife safe from nets and plastic. People are here because the fields are here and if they're gone and they don't have a place to come home to then. I think it will be the same for our people. The next wave for the Islanders is a return to stewardship of the land.

Like these traditional baskets that are woven from not grass but telephone wire you see old ways and new ways of knowing woven together a natural fit for natives who are finding careers in eco tourism. And taking jobs protecting the land and wildlife and doing scientific research jobs with their traditional knowledge is a treasure to be shared.