Free Gabriel's Stand by Jay B. Gaskill Page A

Restoration Treaty might as well be called the Punish The Humans Treaty . This is counterfeit environmentalism, based on a fake conflict between technology and the protection of the wilderness. There’s no unbridgeable canyon between technology and the environment.”
    â€œYou’ve claimed the Treaty could dismantle the Habitat?”
    â€œNot could, will. Yes, it will dismantle the Habitat. The Treaty gives huge powers to the Technology Licensing Commission—in Europe they call it the Technology Retirement Commission. And in Europe, I must note that the Commission is run by extremists. Ask yourself this.” Gabriel looked straight into the camera. “Will the American people or any of their representatives have any real voice in the composition of this all-powerful Commission, the selection of its High Commissioner, or in the formulation of any of its policies? The answer is no. And that is by design. All of the key supporters in Europe and on this side of the pond have wild positions. To them technology is an evil to be eliminated.”
    â€œDo we need technology to preserve the environment?”
    â€œIt’s far too late to just go ‘back to nature’ without terrible consequences. The Habitat requires us to use all our technological resources to manage this huge wilderness area.”
    â€œWhy give Native Americans preferred access to this area?”
    â€œLighten up, white eyes.” When Cahoon looked taken back, Gabriel grinned disarmingly. “Hey. There aren’t that many of us left. And weren’t we Injuns there first?” Cahoon conceded with a knowing smile.
    â€œSeriously,” Gabriel continued, “nature is for all of us to enjoy as long as we fulfill our duty to preserve it. This means that ordinary folks ought to be able to enjoy it. Not just the wealthy or the exceptionally fit. After all, technology can help get a four year old child and seventy five year old grandmother safely into and out of the wilderness. And it can save a rare species of fox from extinction.”
    â€œWhat makes you so sure that the American version of the Commission will be so extreme, Senator?”
    â€œA skunk by any other color still smells bad. Just follow the political connections, the money connections, the people connections and their shared ideology. My vote on ratification will be no, and I hope to have half of the Senate with me. The wilderness has always been in my blood. I think we all desperately need balance. If we are good stewards and we vote down this treaty, the wilderness will be alive and thriving a thousand years from now.”
    Cahoon nodded, signaling the end of the formal interview. “Well, congratulations, Senator. The Habitat Act is probably the most significant environmental measure in the last hundred years.”
    â€œI am proud of everyone who worked on the bill.”
    â€œEven Senator Smith of Utah voted for it. How did you pull that off?”
    â€œI took him fishing.” Gabriel grinned. “And I let him use my flies.” Gabriel stood. “Come outside. I want to show you around the place. Have you met my wife and daughter?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œCan you ride a horse?”
    â€œIn the snow?”
    â€œCome on, white eyes. Custer did.”

Chapter 10
    When Helen Snowfeather Lindstrom began her last year at the University of Washington, she felt that she had finally moved out of her father’s giant shadow. Snowfeather had earned her own—admittedly smaller—place as a mover and shaker.
    With her mid-length black hair, high cheekbones and luminous gray eyes, she carried her beauty with the innocence of a young colt. Still cherishing her taproots in the tribal/family compound in Northern Idaho, she had been released from her years of confinement as a politician’s brat in Washington. She had dropped her first name and, as Snowfeather, she was taking on life on her own terms.
    Of course,