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Wilderness in Native American Culture Item Info

Title:
Wilderness in Native American Culture
Creator:
Chief Oren Lyons
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1989-04-20
Description:
Lecture given by Chief Oren Lyons, professor at the Department of American Studies and Director of Native American Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Opening words by Dr. James R. Fazio, head of the Department of Wildland Recreation Management and acting Director of the Wilderness Research Center. Introduction by John C. Hendee, dean of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences at the University of Idaho. The lecture opens with a traditional greeting. Chief Lyons refers to the introduction and emphasizes the great respect that he has for spiritual leaders, and that he is not one. Chief Lyons also clarifies that he cannot speak for all the Indian nations, but that they do have a common understanding, ethic, and spiritual experience in regards to the land and the earth. The lecture touches on the irony of white men trying to eradicate the indigenous peoples' way of life, but then requiring guidance from those peoples, guidance they are only able to provide because of their way of life. Frustration at false spiritual leaders and 'shammans' is expressed and a reminder is given that this is a selfish and cheap way to treat the traditions held for so long by many people. The spiritual law of the Native Americans is explained and emphisis is laid on maintaining stable life support systems, namely water resources. History is given to detail the treaties forged between the founding fathers and the Native Americans. The lecture emphasizes our responsibilities to honor the treaties that our fore-fathers signed. This goal can be accomplished, it will take hard work but Chief Lyons thinks we are capable, we have a common cause, the future of wilderness and the rest of the earth.
Subjects:
lectures indigenous people wilderness
Location:
Univeristy of Idaho Moscow, Idaho
Latitude:
46.7293
Longitude:
-117.0125
Publisher:
University of Idaho Wilderness Research Center
Source:
University of Idaho Wilderness Research Center
Source Identifier:
wrdl10
Type:
text
Format:
application/pdf

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"Wilderness in Native American Culture", Idaho Forestry Research Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/forestryresearch/items/forestryresearch963.html
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Educational use includes non-commercial use of text and images in materials for teaching and research purposes. Digital reproduction rights granted by University of Idaho Library. For other uses beyond educational use, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.
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