Indigenous for Our Survival Series: Little Fire Ants on the Move
by Sharde Mersberg Freitas, Chapter Organizer | Reading time: 4 minutes
The impacts of colonialism are still being dealt with today. Scholars have also articulated this ongoing settler colonialism as a “structure, not an event.” Simultaneously, there is also “enduring indigeneity.” (1) The more we learn and study about how colonialism operates, or even observe the power dynamics and history of Hawaiʻi, the better we can confront the problem and negative impacts we are trying to solve. There is also so much that we can learn and do together for our collective liberation with our island cousins across the Pacific and others impacted by colonialism. We need not look far to also see the impacts of colonialism on our environment here in Hawaiʻi. As part of this month’s Indigenous for Our Survival series, I share my personal journey in moving from Oʻahu to Hawaiʻi Island, as it relates to equity, the colonial impacts we are grappling with, while thinking about what future we want for our keiki. While the impacts we continue to experience are cumulative, this journey is also deeply personal. I invite us all to continue on this journey together as a collective, and perhaps the first step to doing that is thinking about the unique impacts to us as individuals.
Looking at the colonial impacts to our environment, I found myself returning back to basic definitions of native and invasive species. Why do native species matter? Why does it matter to distinguish between native and invasive plants and animals? This basic identification may seem over simplified and insignificant, and yet may also be at the root of the exact adjustment that we need to steer the course for our just climate future. The definitions of these basic terms are quite defining when we take a deeper look at where investments (2) – monetary, time, systemic policies and structures – are made, who holds that power to make those investments and decisions, and what this looks like for the future of Hawaiʻi.
Let’s layout these definitions:
Native: “Native plant species are species that have existed historically in that area.”(National Audubon Society)
Invasive: “Invasive plant species are non-native to particular ecosystems and the introduction of them is likely to cause ‘economic or environmental harm or harm to human health,’ according to the National Invasive Species Information Center.” (National Audubon Society)
Non-native is also worth mentioning, as they are generally introduced but do not cause harm to the native species. These definitions in itself provide important classifications when thinking of the symbiotic relationality, or the lack thereof, to its surroundings. Taking things a step further from here, what do our current structures, policies, and decisionmakers uphold with regards to protecting or investing in native species?
Here is where I get personal. Growing up on Oʻahu, there are a lot of things that I have come to normalize, that I only now have come to appreciate moving to Hawaiʻi Island. On Oʻahu, it is normal to be in bumper-to-bumper traffic during the morning rush and pau hana hours. It is normal to buy much of your groceries and food from the store. On Hawaiʻi Island, traffic looks a bit different. There is also traffic of another kind – loads and loads of little fire ants (LFA). And it is common practice to share foods with a neighbor that you grew in your yard, or harvested from ma uka (uplands) or ma kai (ocean).
Hawaiʻi Island has long experienced the impacts of LFA, and yet has gotten little support to prevent further (possibly irreparable) damage. One takes great caution to harvest from their garden in fear of being showered on by LFA. My kids are taught safety approaches to harvesting from their māla (garden) at school due to LFA. After many and continued attempts to get support from our state and local government, it now seems normalized, where just as one would fertilize their garden with nutrients, they also know to treat for LFA. Not only has Hawaiʻi Island been experiencing the impacts of little fire ants, but they could have also been a warning sign for the rest of the islands.
It’s important to note, the invasive species running amok on Hawaiʻi Island do not stop at LFA. The experience I am sharing is merely highlighted as an example, and there are many more.
For my kids and generations to come, I want them to enjoy the Hawaiʻi I heard my grandparents talk about. The Hawaiʻi that I learned about in school, and thanks to the Hawaiian ancestors that refined their Indigenous knowledge and practice over millennia to sustain upwards of 1 million people here at one time, I want my kids to live here sustainably as well. As we think about the future that we want for Hawaiʻi, and our keiki, let us plan for seven generations into the future. This type of long range planning warrants deep thought to strategically invest today for the future. Let us invest in structures, policies, and programs that cultivate native species, especially for native peoples in their homeland, and an important part of that is the mitigation and control of invasive species as they threaten native species and the cultural practices and connection to place that rely on them.
(1) J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, "“A structure, not an event”: Settler Colonialism and Enduring Indigeneity," Lateral 5.1 (2016)
(2) https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/02/invest-in-our-aina-to-secure-hawaiis-future/