Here, the Inuit’s eye was probably drawn to caribou browsing amid a near-endless field of ripe cotton grass, the ecstatic leap of an ocean fish, the braided sinew of a perfectly crafted bow. I’m guessing, but everything they saw must have glistered brightly with the beauty of sustainability, which is the same thing as the beauty of belonging: They knew that this place was their home and would always be their home, that their livelihoods were in harmony with the land—a sensation unknown to most all of us.
-- Ken Ilgunas (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote is a good example of how Ilgunas draws on the history of the land, landscape, and its peoples to contrast the past, present, and potential future. It also introduces the idea of sustainability which is an important part of the theme of environmentalism and climate change. It is important to note the connection Ilgunas makes between sustainability...