It fits our 20th-century view of us as ecological monsters. There's no doubt that we do terrible things ecologically, but we're passing that on to the past, which may not have actually been the case. To stick our plight onto them is unfair.

The collapse was really a function of European disease being introduced. The story that's been told about these populations going crazy and creating their own demise may just be simply an artifact of [Christian] missionaries telling stories.

There may not have actually been any collapse. With only 500 years, there's no reason to believe there had to have been a huge [population] growth.

Also, ecologically, when you're more oxygenated, you're in better shape.

There's no doubt I'm emotional.

I walked home, seeing all my doubt from the other side. Have you ever seen that? Like when you go on holiday. On the way back, everything is the same but it looks a little different than it did on the way. It's because you're seeing it backwards.