San Juan Island National Monument Proclamation 8947 calls out the rich history of the Coast Salish People and the Reef-Net. Per the 20 year National Monument Resource Management Goals, WE ask you to share the vision of a thriving culture through the biological and ecological restoration of our village sites, camps, reef-net locations and 13 moons food sovereignty to the 1,000 acres of stewarded land.
| sanjuan-proclamation.pdf |
SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
The public is encouraged to submit comments through the internet, email, or postal mail:
Website: https://go.usa.gov/xRphc
Email: blm_or_sanjuanislandsnm@blm.gov
Postal: San Juan Islands National Monument
BLM Lopez Island Office
PO Box 3 Lopez, WA 98261
Bureau of Land Management Media Advisory
fy19nr_02_blm_sjinm_deis-rmp_meetings.pdf
TEMPLATE EXAMPLE - MODIFY AS NEEDED AND EMAIL: blm_or_sanjuanislandsnm@blm.gov
My name is _________. I live in _________, ______ and would like to provide my comments on the development and maintenance of the San Jan Island National Monument.
As the proclamation states, these "islands are part of the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people" and I would like to make sure that in the final plan, the Monument be considered and treated with the ultimate respect possible. That means any and all activities within the monument should keep visitor impacts to as low as possible without prohibiting access to the island. For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified in the proclamation, I would like to ensure that the Coast Salish peoples’ presence on the island, historical and contemporary, are more than adequately represented in the development and maintenance of the Monument. This means working with Coast Salish communities in identifying, recording marking and protecting sacred sites on land and in the waters, understanding as noted in the proclamation "nothing shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Washington with respect to fish and wildlife management." It includes making certain that all visitors understand that the Monument is an unceded territory and viewed as Coast Salish territory, not the U.S. and that any development of the Monument from other agencies and organizations approach it from that perspective as well. It means ensuring Coast Salish voices are included in any development and maintenance plans of the Monument and that these voices are heard at the beginning phases of planning, not just the end. It would also mean the Coast Salish being allowed to participate in leadership and staff positions in all phases and aspect of the planning, development, and maintenance of the Monument.
I would like to ensure that public educational programming is made available not just the environmental priorities of the Monument, but its cultural significance as well. This would include markers, signs and other educational indicators throughout the Monument that would include Coast Salish perspectives, rights, and interpretations. I would like to ensure that other programming such as forums, workshops, educational programs, and public events also be designed and include Coast Salish culture and history relate to the Monument, too. This inclusion would also ensure Indigenous history, culture, law, sovereignty, and psychospiritual orientations are being included community and regional planning sessions, and project development. This would also include Coast Salish cultural sensitivity training for all Monument staff and volunteers, that will then be used for interactions with Coast Salish communities and groups and expressed to the public. This would also include the use of the Salishan language wherever possible, both in spoken and in written forms. This would also include using Coast Salish architectural and artwork designs for visitor centers, offices, trail signage, markers, etc. (e.g. long houses instead of western buildings).
I would like to ensure that the Monument give priority access and use by Coast Salish communities for cultural and restorative activities of the land, water, and other resources. This would include policies and procedures that would reserve the rights to access to the Coast Salish, set aside use and resources to support cultural activities, to work to restore the Monument to pre-contact condition with native plants and ecosystems, allow for food sovereignty in traditional ways both on land and in the waters, for ceremonies and traditional celebrations, community gatherings, etc.
I would like to see the restoration and protection of environmental aspects of the lands and waters. This would include the banning use of pesticides and herbicides and priority given to native species, particularly those with a history within the Monument. It would mean also taking into account the impacts of climate change, both on rising sea levels and changing weather patterns that would alter the plant and wildlife, land and seascapes. This would mean careful management of non-native and invasive species. No hard stabilization unless the island(s) itself or cultural sites are in imminent danger, soft stabilization is acceptable. This would also include the protection and restoration of wildlife and marine life a special emphasis on endangered or threatened species.
Other considerations:
My name is _________. I live in _________, ______ and would like to provide my comments on the development and maintenance of the San Jan Island National Monument.
As the proclamation states, these "islands are part of the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people" and I would like to make sure that in the final plan, the Monument be considered and treated with the ultimate respect possible. That means any and all activities within the monument should keep visitor impacts to as low as possible without prohibiting access to the island. For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified in the proclamation, I would like to ensure that the Coast Salish peoples’ presence on the island, historical and contemporary, are more than adequately represented in the development and maintenance of the Monument. This means working with Coast Salish communities in identifying, recording marking and protecting sacred sites on land and in the waters, understanding as noted in the proclamation "nothing shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Washington with respect to fish and wildlife management." It includes making certain that all visitors understand that the Monument is an unceded territory and viewed as Coast Salish territory, not the U.S. and that any development of the Monument from other agencies and organizations approach it from that perspective as well. It means ensuring Coast Salish voices are included in any development and maintenance plans of the Monument and that these voices are heard at the beginning phases of planning, not just the end. It would also mean the Coast Salish being allowed to participate in leadership and staff positions in all phases and aspect of the planning, development, and maintenance of the Monument.
I would like to ensure that public educational programming is made available not just the environmental priorities of the Monument, but its cultural significance as well. This would include markers, signs and other educational indicators throughout the Monument that would include Coast Salish perspectives, rights, and interpretations. I would like to ensure that other programming such as forums, workshops, educational programs, and public events also be designed and include Coast Salish culture and history relate to the Monument, too. This inclusion would also ensure Indigenous history, culture, law, sovereignty, and psychospiritual orientations are being included community and regional planning sessions, and project development. This would also include Coast Salish cultural sensitivity training for all Monument staff and volunteers, that will then be used for interactions with Coast Salish communities and groups and expressed to the public. This would also include the use of the Salishan language wherever possible, both in spoken and in written forms. This would also include using Coast Salish architectural and artwork designs for visitor centers, offices, trail signage, markers, etc. (e.g. long houses instead of western buildings).
I would like to ensure that the Monument give priority access and use by Coast Salish communities for cultural and restorative activities of the land, water, and other resources. This would include policies and procedures that would reserve the rights to access to the Coast Salish, set aside use and resources to support cultural activities, to work to restore the Monument to pre-contact condition with native plants and ecosystems, allow for food sovereignty in traditional ways both on land and in the waters, for ceremonies and traditional celebrations, community gatherings, etc.
I would like to see the restoration and protection of environmental aspects of the lands and waters. This would include the banning use of pesticides and herbicides and priority given to native species, particularly those with a history within the Monument. It would mean also taking into account the impacts of climate change, both on rising sea levels and changing weather patterns that would alter the plant and wildlife, land and seascapes. This would mean careful management of non-native and invasive species. No hard stabilization unless the island(s) itself or cultural sites are in imminent danger, soft stabilization is acceptable. This would also include the protection and restoration of wildlife and marine life a special emphasis on endangered or threatened species.
Other considerations:
- Prohibiting personal motorized water vehicles. Kayaks, canoes, and sailboats would be acceptable.
- Commercial motorized water vehicles to be limited to agencies working to maintain the Monument and to ferries in transporting visitors to and from sites.
- Severely restrict motorized vehicles and their access on land to campsites and other sites avoiding direct contact with sacred sites.
- Prohibit any kind of motorized recreational vehicles such as ATVs, etc.
- Severely restrict bicycle and horseback trails avoiding direct contact with sacred sites.
- Severely restrict hiking trails avoiding direct contact with sacred sites.
- Camping restricted to designated campsite areas (which should be limited in size and number) which would be outside sacred sites and by permit only (access for Tribal use would be unrestricted).
- No drones unless used by agency officials in monitoring the health of the Monument in those areas not accessible by other means.
- NO FIREARMS or fireworks.
- General public access to be restricted to designated areas, avoiding direct contact with sacred sites as determined by Coast Salish peoples.
- Keep priority of Monument as a preserve, not a public recreational site. Priority should be on restoration, preservation, and education. Recreational use should be limited to the lowest impact and monitored.
- As stated in the monument, "nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the rights of any Indian tribe. The Secretary shall, in consultation with Indian tribes, ensure the protection of religious and cultural sites in the monument and provide access to the sites by members of Indian tribes for traditional 4 cultural and customary uses, consistent with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996) and Executive Order 13007 of May 24, 1996 (Indian Sacred Sites)."
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Whiteswan Environmental relies on donations from the community to make this vision a reality.
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