November is Native American Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages, stories, art, histories and contributions of the millions of past and present people who are affiliated with the approximately 574 federally recognized tribes in this country. Take time this month to learn more about these peoples, especially those in our beautiful area. More than 100 of these tribes are represented among the student body at Fort Lewis College.
We now have “land acknowledgements,” which you may have heard read before Durango City Council meetings, FLC events and more. Land acknowledgements aren’t new. They have actually been around for centuries to recognize the original people of the land who were often forcibly removed: Utes, Navajo, Apache, Hopi, Havasupai, Cherokee, Seminole. My great ancestors, Choctaw, were part of the original Trail of Tears from the Southwest United States to the Oklahoma Territory in 1830. These actions impacted many families and lives in one way or another.
Simple ways to honor our indigenous lands include: don’t litter, pick up litter; walk or bike rather than drive; respect wildlife; leave no trace; conserve resources including water; rely less on fossil fuels, etc.
We all need to participate – individuals, state, city, county, tribal governments, businesses, schools, and so on. It’s nice to read these acknowledgements, but they are of greater importance when we turn these words into action. Please do your part!
Victor Michael Locke
Durango
