Opinion: Native American environmental activist says vote yes on Amendment 2
Today in Florida Today by Guest Columnist Betty Osceola: Opinion: Native American environmental activist says vote yes on Amendment 2
I wanted to explain a little bit about why I have been sharing information about Amendment 2: The Right to Fish and Hunt.
Being an Indigenous person, a member of the Miccosukee Tribe, I have time and time again seen and heard accounts from tribal elders that our rights to hunt and fish are being eroded. Our people used to have the right to hunt and fish all over Florida for subsistence living.
Over time as Florida got more developed, areas to freely do those activities dwindled for my people. Today there is a train of thought that indigenous people should only hunt and fish on our reservation lands. The problem, over time is that the quality of fish has decreased with too much mercury and the deer populations have drastically diminished. Which has led to our people to hunt and fish more so outside of reservation lands and territorial lands.
The point of this long story? My people, the Miccosukee, understand very well the threats to the right to hunt and fish. My people have experienced it. That is why I feel not only is it important for my people, but for the people for all of Florida to have a constitutional right to hunt and fish. That doesn't mean an open free-for-all. It means those of us who rely on hunting and fishing to supplement our groceries (yes some of us still do this) keep that right.
Hunting and fishing also contributed to Florida's economy with $16 billion. In addition to funding the acquisition of 19% of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Amendment 2 protects these activities so the youth of today and tomorrow to have those rights.
Too many people are disconnected from these activities and therefore may not understand the need to constitutionally protect these rights or they may just be anti-hunting and anti-fishing. Don't let their fear-mongering form your opinion. That's why as we stare down the barrel of the last couple of months before the November general election… Don’t forget to VOTE YES on AMENDMENT 2 and help protect the future of hunting and fishingin Florida!
Need more information?
Q: Don’t we already have this right?A: No. We have a statute “recognizing the right” but this could be changed by the legislature at any time. This is the reason a constitutional amendment is so important.
Q: Is this really about conservation?A: 19% of the Florida Wildlife Corridor was acquired with hunter/angler dollars. That means that the largest contributor to the largest conservation project in state history is hunters and anglers.
Q: How does this protect clean water/air/land?A: Courts have determined that this right cannot exist “in the abstract” ― what that means is that the right must be able to be exercised. If waters are damaged, for instance, there is now a recourse for damage to the fishery. Similarly, you can’t just overdevelop and wipe out game populations. This truly is a conservation protection, first and foremost.
Q: Is there more information on the Right to Fish and Hunt?A: https://Allfla.org/r2fh has everything you could want/need!This does NOT undo the net ban.This does NOT undo trespassing laws.
etty Osceola is a Native American Everglades environmental activist, educator, anti-fracking and clean water advocate. She is a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida from the Panther Clan.
Native American Florida activist says vote yes on amendment 2 (floridatoday.com)