Tribe Stewardship

Tribe Stewardship

PlPlease HELP remove the painted red rock Grafitti from South Beach, Fishers Island-Make the Message “Clear” For Island Stewardship!

A special thanks to Mason Horn, who provided the wire rock cage for collection and my Tribe at school for creating the laminated sign, and to Jim Ski who has offered to crush the rocks.

**Eastern tip of runway-Sanctuary of Sands.

– Audio Clip by Justine Kibbe June 5, 2018.

 

For updates to the lawsuit intended to protect the Long Island Sound Estuary, filed in August 2017, including the recent update on April 16, 2018, please visit fishersisland.net

Plastic bag debris

We see it so often here on Fishers Island that I just can’t “bag it!” (hush up about it!)
Why bring our own satchels and shopping totes to market?
“The answer is blowin in the wind”…
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe March 18, 2018

Marine Debris

Storms surrounding Fishers Island only deliver marine debris “faster” into our precious coves, harbors and surrounding coastline –we are, though, everyday constantly under “siege”…
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe March 2, 2018

Bear Crossing

BD Remodeling & Restoration aboard Capt. Conroy’s Baby Doll helps to remind commuters and ferry crew to report any unusual wildlife sightings and marine debris across Fishers Island Sound.

John Peishoff

John Peishoff's 889th Lobster Pot

– Audio Chat by Justine Kibbe October 1, 2017.

I chat with lifelong Islander John Peishoff about the necessity and importance of Fishers Island Stewardship. To date, he’s picked-up, hauled, and taken to the dump 889 wire Lobster pots-line them together; that’s over a half mile!

Stewards rescue juvenile herring gull

So grateful to get a knock on my door to hear about how two of my neighbors rescued a juvenile herring gull struggling with a hook stuck in it’s mouth.

– Justine Kibbe September 30, 2017

Sanctuary of Sands

Sanctuary of Sands

– Field Note by Justine Kibbe April 30, 2017.

It was always a sweet spot of mine-this Sanctuary of Sands as I call it. The same tidal pools are here, where as a kid, I tipped barnacled rocks years ago with my neighbors. We spent hours searching for crabs to fill our buckets-bait for catching blackfish. It was also the best viewing for the Friday landings of Jock Whitney’s Jet. Oh, it even could be I recollect sneaking a kiss or three here during my early teenage years; we “west- enders” of summer and all those bonfire nights.

But I also remember Fishers Island’s premier Naturalist Ed Horning – seeing him here with his binoculars spying various species of sandpipers from the dune grasses. It was probably a sweet spot for him too; actually Southold has documented notes of his, that it really was his favorite for observing shorebirds feeding within salted kelp and eelgrass berms.

Now decades later, the same three tiny coves parallel to the Elizabeth Field Runway, with sands that have shifted and sifted these past years after Hurricane Sandy have become the spot where at long last my ship has come in- Stewardship.

If I were to name this ship it would be christened Atukan- Akun or “We Are One” honoring my Unungan tribe of the Bering Sea. It’s an Island environment, the Aleuts taught me, that can uniquely exemplify this universal “gift” of knowing AND seeing we truly are ONE. An opportunity to live and breathe the Natural world of sea and sand, the rhythm of sun and moon, wind and wave; where its wildlife and habitat naturally brings out the unity in community-or tribe.

Atukan- Akun, embracing the integral qualities of tribe is an even sweeter spot not unlike a very unique classroom; placed upon the hearts of students here on Fishers Island. We are together Leaders and followers, Teachers and learners, all striving to glean the local traditional knowledge of our native land and preserve it.

And so with sails set and trimmed this Spring, signs have been placed throughout this Sanctuary to help steer Island stewards as we stand watch over our precious cargo-treading lightly, respectfully, and navigating this voyage with a certain hopefulness; taking the helm towards “future history” of our Island.

Earthday EVERYday

Or so it should be. Stewardship on Fishers Island should be a constant – Marine Debris certainly is.