Activity 2-4: Recognize the Original Human Companions of the Land
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Motivation Indigenous people hold deep relationships of mutual care with the land and all more-than-human beings. I hope to inspire an echo of such relationships through this practice, recognizing that, as settlers, our relationships will never have the depth of Native peoples' connection through ancestral and cultural ties. It is fitting that in cultivating a relationship with the land, we recognize and honor the people who have companioned the land through countless generations. In doing so, we must also acknowledge the trauma caused by settlers' claims of ownership and systematic attempts to sever Native peoples from their homelands. |
Honor your Grandmother Earth. Art by Dakota artist Marlena Myles, http://wiyounkihipi.com/
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Things to Try
Whose homeland is it?
As a first step, learn the name(s) of the Native nation(s) who identify the land your chosen park is on as their homeland. The Native Land Digital Map shows the rough outlines of Native nations' homelands overlaid on familiar landmarks. (Turn on "OpenStreetMap Labels" to help orient yourself.) The site also shows regions by Native languages and the boundaries of treaties and includes a Teacher's Guide that provides detailed information and discusses the complexities of the maps.
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When and how was the land taken?
The broad strokes of the story are the same throughout the United States, with Native Americans being coerced into treaties that were never truly honored. Learning the particulars of the story in your area can help you connect with the loss on a more personal level. For the technicalities, an 1897 report by the Smithsonian on Indian Land Cessions in the United States details the treaties recorded up to that date. The Library of Congress version includes a section of maps showing treaty boundaries by state (67 images, at top of page), and a section containing the text of each treaty (part 2 of 2; 480 pages). Learning the stories behind the treaties will require digging into local resources. You can start with an online search for "treaties" and the name of the Native nation in your area and/or your state. Your state's historical society may also have resources. For example, the Minnesota Historical society provides a site on treaties and the 1862 Dakota War that outlines the complex history of successive broken treaties leading to armed conflict and the largest mass hanging in U.S. history. (See my summary of the story.) You can also learn from the tribe(s) in your area and get their version of the story. In Minnesota, Healing Minnesota Stories offers powerful Sacred Sties Tours and the Hoċokata Ti Cultural Center teaches visitors about the culture and history of the Mdewakanton Dakota. |
The land before colonization
Learn what the land was like before it was conquered by European settlers. What plants and animals played key roles in the ecosystem and the lives of the Native people? Which of those members of the community are now missing? Which ones are still present? What practices did Native peoples follow to maintain their relationships within the ecosystem? If there are native species in your park, see if you can learn the Native names for them. What gifts did the Native people receive from them? Native American stories
Stories are an important way that Native Americans express their culture. Nearly all Native peoples have a rich cast of characters that weave through their stories. Read written versions of the stories told by the peoples in your area, or, better yet, seek out opportunities to hear Native people tell their stories. Consider the lessons the stories convey about how to live in right relationship with each other and the land. You can also seek out contemporary Native authors and artists. |
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Resources
Native Land Digital Map - Native Land Digital is an Indigenous-led non-profit. Their map seeks to "better represent how Indigenous people want to see themselves." The map shows the rough outlines of Native nations' homelands across North America, most of Central and South America and Australia, and some nations in other parts of the world. The map also includes layers for treaties and language groups, and the website includes a range of additional resources. Indian Land Cessions in the United States - This document is part of the 1896-97 Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. (The other part of the Annual Report is an ethnographic description of the Eskimo around Bering Strait.) The section on Indian Land Cessions consists of three parts: (1) an introduction describing European, American colonial, and United States policy toward Indians; (2) a series of maps, by state, showing the land areas subject to treaties and cessions; and (3) entries for each treaty/cession/reservation listing the date, location of signing, associated laws or executive orders, tribe(s) involved, description of the land area covered, remarks, and reference to the corresponding map page. The report includes treaties made through 1894. A bright red maple leaf drifts haltingly down from high above, like a marionette being slowly lowered on her strings.
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Suggested Reading
Braiding Sweetgrass chapters - Braiding Sweetgrass as a whole is inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's Potawatomi heritage, so all of the chapters relate to this activity. A few that are particularly relevant include:
Rez Life: An Indian's Journey Through Reservation Life, by David Treuer - Treuer explores the realities of life on and off reservations for contemporary Native Americans and provides insight into their historical context. He addresses the complexities of law enforcement and court systems, the origins and implications of Native-owned casinos, the challenges of claiming treaty rights, and more. What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota Homeland, by Waziyatawin Angela Wilson - Waziyatawin describes the injustices done to the Dakota people in the wake of European colonization and, importantly, suggests ways to move toward more just relationships today. |
Mní Sota & Dakota resources
I live on the homelands of the Dakota people in the state now known as Minnesota. The word Minnesota is derived from Dakota mní sota, variously translated as "land of sky blue water," "land where the water reflects the sky." Parts of Minnesota are also homeland to the Ojibwe people. The following resources may be particularly useful for those who also live on Dakota and Ojibwe land.
I live on the homelands of the Dakota people in the state now known as Minnesota. The word Minnesota is derived from Dakota mní sota, variously translated as "land of sky blue water," "land where the water reflects the sky." Parts of Minnesota are also homeland to the Ojibwe people. The following resources may be particularly useful for those who also live on Dakota and Ojibwe land.
- Healing Minnesota Stories - Healing Minnesota Stories offers powerful tours visiting important sites in the Twin Cities area and telling both traditional and historical stories.
- Hoċokata Ti - Hoċokata Ti is a museum-style exhibit that explores Dakota traditions, cultures, and history through storytelling, artifacts, and art.
- Marlena Myles - Is a contemporary Dakota artist whose work includes maps, murals, coloring books, and augmented reality installations.
- Dakota and Ojibwe Uses of Native Plants, St. Olaf College - This brochure gives the Dakota and Ojibwe names of several plants found in natural areas of the St. Olaf College campus, along with some of the ways they were used and photographs for identification. Many of these plants may be found in parks and other locations throughout Dakota and Ojibwe lands.
- Louise Erdrich - Is a contemporary Ojibwe author. Her novels, poetry, and children's books generally revolve around Native American characters and themes. She also owns Birchbark Books in Minneapolis.
- Diane Wilson - Is a contemporary Dakota author whose most recent novel, The Seed Keeper, interweaves the stories of several generations of Dakota women.