Written By: Marissa McClenton
November is Native American Heritage Month, and I want to encourage folks to reflect on the legacy of stewardship, conservation, and the rich traditions that indigenous peoples have maintained for centuries. As environmental and other protections come under attack from the federal administration, it can feel like we are losing the battle for our environment and the plants, animals, and people that call it home. When I reflect on the ways that indigenous folks globally, and the Nanticoke and Lenni-Lenape Nations locally, have persisted despite horrific attempts to erase culture, ancestry, and ties to the land- I feel a deep sense of gratitude, appreciation, and wonder that give me hope. In this moment, uplifting Native American heritage and stewardship practices feels like a crucial piece to building a better world.
One of the groups that has brought this realization to life for me is The Native Roots Farm Foundation, a Native (Lenape) and woman-led nonprofit with a mission to “reclaiming, cultivating, and celebrating Native relationships with land, plants, and community for the next Seven Generations.” For years, they have connected the native plants with which many are familiar with their names in native languages and held other events to highlight rich cultural practices like beadwork. When I look back at the events they host across the Delmarva region, it reminds me how much knowledge about caring for the natural world is missing from larger environmental conversations. This is what I hope folks can reflect on if they celebrate Thanksgiving, a day The United American Indians of New England protest as a National Day of Mourning, which can serve as a reminder of both the resilience, oppression, and rich ancestry of indigenous peoples here and around the globe.
In a country where apathy towards people and the environment is…
Bangor Opera House in downtown Bangor, Maine. Image credit Wangkun Jia via Shutterstock 
Fall scenery at Bangor, Maine. 
