Walter Echo-Hawk is a Native American attorney, tribal judge, author, activist and law professor. He is a representative of Indian tribes on numerous issues, such as treaty rights, water rights, religious freedom, prisoner rights, and repatriation rights.

Echo-Hawk discussed his belief of the need for a land and sea ethic within the United States. He believes that a “truly America” environmental ethic is both timely and necessary. Echo-Hawk stated “The world is facing a very grave environmental crisis, as our nation begins to enter a new human rights era.”

Walter Echo-Hawk then began to identify why he believes that the United States hasn’t developed a land and sea ethic as of yet. He points out that the American nation has become “alienated from the natural world,” and he also acknowledges that the United States alone cannot turn the tides of the environment. Echo-Hawk stated that “each nation must be willing to enter” the environmental land ethic that he envisions.

There are six key elements which Walter Echo-Hawk believes to be indicators of the need for a land and sea ethic. These elements being: The mass extinction of animals and plants, the destruction and degradation of native plant life, land pollution, ocean pollution, depletion of the world’s fisheries, and air pollution.

Walter Echo-Hawk speaks about how the land ethic shouldn’t be difficult to model. “We don’t have to recreate the wheel” he says, as he describes the possible models that might work in the United States for an environmental ethic.

Echo-Hawk makes a compelling case about the need for a “truly American land and sea ethic” and reiterates multiple times that “we don’t need to remake the wheel” to make a difference.

On September 24, 2014, congressional democratic candidate, Joe Pakootas, came to campus for a Coffee & Politics event. Pakootas was challenger of Cathy McMorris Rodgers for the seat of U.S. Representative for the 5^th congressional district of Washington—Speaker Foley’s former position. Pakootas discussed his experience as former chairman of the Colville Tribal Council and the current CEO of the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation, as well as dispelled common misconceptions about Native American tribes.

He expressed concern over poverty and income inequality, as well as natural resources and environmental issues. Pakootas explained that his motivation to run for public office was to create a better world for his children and grandchildren.

Pakootas lost to incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers in the November election.

The fall SEPP Symposium, held on September 24, 2014, focused on analysis of policy regulation of environmental toxicants. Michael Skinner, professor of biological sciences and principal investigator of the Skinner Laboratory at WSU, began the discussion by sharing his research findings on how environmental toxicants can lead to trans-generational disease. Environmental toxicants that enter a body can still be present generations later. Carl Cranor, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at University of California- Riverside, discussed the ethical and moral implications of the untested chemicals that are in a large majority of goods on the market, for which there are no legally required testing and regulation. Raoul Lievanos, assistant professor in sociology at WSU, discussed the role that public policy plays in maintaining environmental justice, such as protecting citizens from harm.

On October 31, 2014, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers visited Pullman to participate in our Coffee & Politics series. While visiting Pullman to hear from her constituents, the Congresswoman stopped by the Institute to share about her roles and duties as U.S. representative of Washington’s 5^th district—the position formerly held by Tom Foley. The Congresswoman introduced herself and discussed her mission for twenty minutes, and then opened the floor up to questions and answers from a standing-room-only crowd comprised of WSU faculty, staff, and students, as well as Pullman community members.

The Q&A session started with a question about gun control, appropriately as there were two initiatives on the Washington ballot related to gun control and background checks. McMorris Rodgers

The Congresswoman was asked to discuss the future of Obamacare. An opponent of the Affordable Care Act, McMorris Rodgers pointed out the aspects of the ACA she hoped would be debated in Congress further. She disagreed with the limitations of choice that individuals would have in health care choices, as well as the 30 million people who would remain uninsured even with the implementation of the ACA. McMorris Rodgers insisted on a need to America to strive for a health care reform that would be seen as a model for the rest of the world.

The Congresswoman secured two more years in her position after re-election in November 2014, winning against democratic challenger Joe Pakootas of Colville.

Coffee & Politics

October 28, 2014

On October 28, the Foley Institute hosted a Coffee & Politics event with Jon McCourt, civil rights activist and former Irish Republican Army member. Listen to his discussion on political transformation in Northern Ireland here:

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