Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island and the Green Movement

​I had planned on writing about the growing importance of indigenous wisdom and knowledge to the green movement. I wanted to do this in November because that is National Native American Heritage Month. However, most of 2023 has provided me with trainings and events about indigenous peoples and reflected a reality, every month is Indigenous Peoples month. So, I will begin 2024 reviewing some of the contacts, events, and trainings that I have participated in that highlight this growing influence on the green movement.
 
This is not the first time I have addressed the influence of indigenous peoples and knowledge on the green movement. In August of 2022 I wrote about the influence of Indigenous Peoples. In December of the same year, I wrote about the land and history of the Algonquin of Ontario. As agriculture struggles to become more sustainable, healthier, and accessible to underserved communities I also wrote about Slow Food USA and Indigenous food programs. This includes traditional foods and diets, use of the land, and developing food distribution systems.
 
Locally, in Northeast Indiana, there is still much to be learned from the original inhabitants of the land. Their names, memory, and impact are felt throughout the area. The Miami of Indian are active. They host Miami Days at Chief Richardville House. The convene across from the Seven Pillars Nature Preserve in Peru Indiana. This was a significant gathering place for many of the First Nations of the area. The Potawatomi Chief Metea is remembered for his skill as a warrior and an orator. Metea County Park is named after him, and Potawatomi camps are held at the park in the summer. Chief Blue Jacket is remembered by an agency that serves people requiring vocational retraining. A statue was dedicated to him, and his relatives visited Fort Wayne and attended the dedication. This Shawnee chief is remembered for his willingness to fight and to ally with other first Nations. This included joining forces with Chief Little Turtle of Miami for the Battle of the Wabash. Chief Blue jacket is also remembered locally with a coffee house that highlights American Indian art and bears his nickname, Tall Rabbit. A few miles from the coffee house is the memorial to his Miami colleague, Little Turtle. Nearby, at the Allen County Courthouse is a bust of Tecumseh. The Miami are active in educating the public about the history and the current life of Miami in the area. They do this through Miami Days, training Indiana Master Naturalists, and in public lectures. This highlights another truth, all lands on Turtle Island are Native lands. It reminds local communities that we do not need to go out West to experience Indigenous culture and life.
 
Indigenous peoples are important to the green movement because of the knowledge they hold. Today we look at cornerstone species, species that sustain an environment and make it grow. They look at the same species as brothers and sisters and know you cannot eradicate them and not expect environmental consequences. So, the classes I took on beaver, bison, wolves, and eagle are classes on cornerstone species and brothers and sisters. Today bison are changing the face of the prairies and restoring their health. Beavers are restoring wetlands, fisheries, and protecting land against wildfires. Eagle sightings, once rare, and now almost common. They remind us to look at other species that are on the brink of extinction. Around the world indigenous peoples are the protectors of biodiversity,
 
I take free one-hour courses through the Outdoor Learning Store. These courses are about using nature to engage children in learning. Many of the courses are taught by First Nation educators. Through the Outdoor Learning Store, I have also enrolled in the First Nations University of Canada. I am taking the Four Seasons of Reconciliation program. While the focus is on the relationship between First Nations and colonizers the use and misuse of land is part of this history. I have also attended virtual lectures sponsored by the Mamidosewn Centre which is part of the Algonquin College. The services and meditations are earth, sky, air, water centered.
 
Foundational to learning about the impact of indigenous Peoples on protecting the environment was a program through Yale University and Coursera. The program, Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community consisted of five courses.  These were: Introduction to Religion and Ecology, Indigenous Religions and Ecology, South Asian Religions and Ecology, East Asian Religions and Ecology, and Western Religions and Ecology.  The Course on Indigenous Religions addressed the relationship between nature and peoples. There were examples of governments giving rights to rivers, indigenous people fighting to protect ecosystems, and the sacredness of place.
 
Another forum that focused on Indigenous Peoples and ecology was the Parliament of the World’s Religions. I attended the 2023 Parliament in Chicago. I met Indigenous people from the Amazon, from around the world, and especially from Turtle Island. The United Nations had sponsored a special Amazon Summit to stress the pressing need to support restoration of the basin or the “lungs of the earth.”  The speakers were from various Amazon basin countries and there were virtual government ministers who addressed us. I met Great Grandmother Mary Lyons who is one of the acknowledged wisdom teachers. I also interviewed the Indigenous Task Force chair, Lewis Cardinal.  The interviews will be shared in future posts.
 
In October and November, I attended a number of events that highlighted Native American/Indigenous Peoples’ Month. This included the Celebrate Indigenous and Native American Heritage Month with Flip!. I also attended, virtually,  Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Native American Dance and Storytelling sponsored by Allen Public Library, Allen Texas. The focus was on Choctaw and Chickasaw peoples. Finally, I attended Indigenous Peoples’ Day Community Celebration at Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. The even included tours of the museum with emphasis on the relationship of First Nations with their environment, bison burgers, storytelling, and dance.
 
Al of this is to say one month can not possibly convey the history, present day challenges, and pride of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. For that reason, this blog will address events, speakers, and issues in detail in 2024.

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