A Study Of American Indians' Ecological Compact In Gary Snyder's Works

Gary Snyder(1930-)is a great ecological poet in contemporary America.His works mainly reflects his concerns toward the biodiversity and sustainability of the ecological system.As an ecologist,Snyder brings the traditional contract into the ecological field,expanding it to ecological compact.The ecological compact is actually the product of American Indian culture and is practiced by Snyder in his process of creating.Through the description of American Indians' myths,tradition,and customs in his poems and essays,Snyder presents American Indians' ecological compact from three aspects.The ecological compact among American Indians emphasizes that any kinds of interpersonal relationships should be conducted under the premise of personal dignity and family honor rather than material wealth.The ecological compact between American Indians and the wildlife guarantees all living beings' rights to take life for living,and also requires them to say "grace." The ecological compact between American Indians and the ecosphere requires human beings to take the sustainability of both mankind and the ecological system into consideration,and teaches them to hold reverence for nature.Compared with the traditional contracts,Snyder sheds new lights on the ecological compact from two aspects.First,the subjects of the compact are no longer restricted to human beings,but encompass nonhuman beings.In other words,the relationship between mankind and nature is more of symbiosis and reciprocity rather than mastery or parasitism.Human beings together with nonhuman beings enjoy equal rights to survival and development.Second,the contents of the compact are lifted up to the spiritual level,including grace and reverence,instead of merely staying on the material dimension of protecting personal property and interests.From the anti-anthropocentric perspective,the ecological compact of the American Indians regards men as plain members of the community and recognizes the equal rights to survival and development of both human beings and nonhuman beings.It is hoped that this compact which is full of ecological wisdom will provide an idea for the solution of the interpersonal and ecological environment problems in nowadays.