Introduction

The pressures on resources are such that in many situations, we can not maintain populations unless harvest is much reduced from present levels. Also, we need more than biological information to insure flourishing populations. I express this as one who: has Masters Degrees in both fishery biology and economics, worked 11 years as a resource and agricultural specialist with Ontarios Ministry of Treasury, has farmed, was the Lake Huron fisheries planner for the Province, has been a fisheries consultant to three First Nations, has studied with Native spiritual leaders plus my Christian studies, and based on my relationship with the Creator. But most importantly, I know from spiritual experience that we must use a spiritual approach if we are to successfully manage many resources.

The need for a Spiritual approach to resource management
 
My expression of spiritual considerations relevant to resources, is based on Native spiritual knowledge and the teachings of Christ. Native knowledge and Christs teachings are compatible.

Everything in Nature is spiritual. Plants, animals and all matter of Mother Earth exist because the Creator has organized spiritual element into matter and biological bodies-- life exists because spiritual element does as requested because it loves and reveres The Creator. It loves The Creator because He loves and reveres all spiritual elements. Thus, this element has awareness and responds to positive energy in the form of requests from the Creator.

Evidence for the above understandings comes from a deep knowledge of the scriptures and from visionaries who can see living spiritual "beings" in rocks, plants, and animals. Also, we know that people, especially children, flourish where there is love and respect, and diminish where it is absent. The same holds for cats, dogs, calves, horses, and other animals. The gardener, who loves his plants, has a flourishing garden. Tree spirits have been observed to leave trees and move away from negative people.
 

What is the importance of this for resource management? Resources are buoyed by love and respect, and are diminished by negative energy. Fish are aware of the greed of fishermen. Resources are depressed by the tremendous negative energy generated when Man ignores the Great Spirit's laws (such as to love our fellow man, the Ten Commandments, disrespecting the environment through pollution, and much more). As plants and animals feel this negative energy, their desire to live, is diminished. But if they feel love and respect, they want to live and reproduce, and thus, populations flourish. In such circumstances, a greater harvest can be obtained without threatening stocks.
 
How can we create love and respect, which builds and stabilizes resource stocks?
 
1) By understanding the spiritual nature of the Creation

2) By developing love for The Creator and His ways

3) By reducing greed and by living The Creators Commandments

4) By developing love and respect for resources

5) By praying for trees, birds, fish, deer, and all of Nature.

6) By performing ceremonies for the plants, animals and Mother Earth

7) By learning the condition and needs of specific resources and their ecosystems.

We can learn the conditions and needs by communicating with The Creator and by communicating with resources through spiritual persons.

Many resources desire to give themselves to Man if our motivations are good. By doing this, they fulfill their purpose in the Creation. A friend had two moose wait on a road. They gave themselves because his motivation was good to give moose meat to the old people who missed it.

In summary
 
Given the pressures to harvest plants and animals, the extensive negative energy impacting on resources, and the limitations of biological management, we need to learn to use spiritual insights in management if stocks are to be preserved.