The pages of this newspaper and the Wednesday, News-Optimist often carry stories and promotions from local sources and various communities around the region about community cleanup days.
This spring, First Nations communities are being invited to "show their pride in Mother Earth."
According to a letter from H. Tom Thrae, several First Nations - Mosquito, Red Pheasant, Moosomin, Saulteaux, Sweetgrass, Little Pine and Poundmaker - have already begun to answer a challenge issued in a letter sent to all First Nations in the area.
The letter indicates First Nations in Saskatchewan have agreed to participate in a challenge running from May 1 to July 15, with the promise of a "great reward" to be bestowed on a winner after the July 15 deadline.
"The winner will be determined by several drive throughs (sic) on various days to see the progress in each community," Thrae's letter states. "The winning First Nation must=t have no garbage on roadsides or yards."
Thrae notes, emphatically, that a main rule of the cleanup challenge is "no cleanup by fire."
The thrust of the competition is to return to ways of respect for "our Earth, our original mother."
"It is with great shame we see people put garbage everywhere. The highways and roads in our communities are littered with garbage. This no does reflect our indigenous values," the letter states.
"We want to show Mother Earth we respect her and care about her beauty of her resources."
The letter makes another point that is dear to my heart: Tobacco is sacred, but throwing the butts on the ground is not. I can never figure out why smokers don't consider butts litter.
First Nations are challenged to get out rakes and hoes and haul the trash away, to have people sit up and take notice of the positive changes they are making.
The First Nations people see themselves as keepers of the environment, according to the letter, and take pride in their homes.
Step up to the challenge, First Nations people everywhere, and the rest of us can follow right behind them. If everyone resisted that urge to toss fast food packaging out the window, the world would be a cleaner place for all.
