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Originally appears in the Summer 2022 issue.
By Jesze Doleh
Discovering Native American petroglyphs, or rock carvings, was a transformative experience for me and could be for others. The key to successful conservation is creating opportunities for people to form their own personal relationship with nature. [1] Whether that be through nature play, hiking, Native American art, or other ways, each experience is valuable. As educators, it is important to be able to facilitate multiple pathways of connection between children and nature.
Petroglyphs and pictographs, rock carvings and rock paintings, are more prevalent in the United States than many people realize. Most parks strive to preserve not only natural resources but also cultural resources like petroglyphs. [2] I recently connected with petroglyphs at a local park, which sparked my curiosity about their origin. Upon further research, a newfound appreciation for nature came about. Petroglyphs contain symbols of nature, including animals, plants, and astrological symbols. Hopefully, those living things are still found in the area. [3] The petroglyphs I have observed depict birds, deer, snakes, and lizards, all of which are still found in the park. Making this connection has made me feel grateful for the people who inhabited this land before me. They took care of the land and ensured it would be here for us today. Having this revolutionary experience has made me realize that Native American art and artifacts, such as petroglyphs, are an underutilized resource for teaching others about nature and conservation.
Having studied science, nature, and conservation for most of my life, I was shocked to realize I had never been exposed to the connection between Native Americans and their role in conservation. While ideal role models, Native Americans and their culture are underrepresented in our curriculum. The more I learn about them, the more apparent this reality is, and the more I want to let others know the importance of teaching children about Native Americans. Not only have they played a significant role in the history of the United States, but they continue to be an important part of the present and future of our country. Some of their history is lost, but there is no denying that their story is etched into those rocks — a story focused on nature and wildlife.
Each symbol in the petrogylphs is a piece of history and the combination of those pieces tells a larger story. Every motif gives a glimpse into the life of the creator or creators. The men and women who created the petroglyphs showed us what was important to them through their storytelling. [3] All objects, plants, animals, people, rivers, mountains, and skies are a part of the universe’s soul. [4] This idea of connectedness is key to protecting the land and has led Native Americans to respect and honor the spirits and, in turn, the land as well. [4] Many Indigenous people view a flower growing as a gift from the land. [4] While we know how a flower grows from a scientific standpoint, that does not foster the idea that every flower is precious and should be individually cared for, not harmed. Changing our perspective on the life of living things or simply realizing its importance could lead to a stronger connection with nature. Each life, no matter how big or small, has a distinct purpose, and should be equally valued.
People have an innate bond to nature. [1] This desire to connect to living things, such as plants and animals, can be used to help connect to conservation. [5] Humans’ natural bond is why doctors have prescribed time in nature to help patients improve their mental and physical well-being. [6] This draw to nature is why we are all striving to expose children to the outdoors, and is part of the reason why nature is so important to Native Americans. They respect land and nature above all else, which is something that many people do not do today. [4] Over the past two years, people have turned to the outdoors to help them through difficult times and it has been beneficial for many. Spending that time in nature makes most people happy and cannot be replicated through a screen.
The reality of today’s world is that environmental degradation is happening at an alarming rate. Humans are the ones to blame for this, but we need the tools and education to change our habits. If we do not change the ways we interact with nature, millions of species could go extinct. [7] Learning from Native Americans can help us develop a relationship of reciprocity with nature and a more sustainable future for generations to come. [7] While all of us need to play a role in taking care of the Earth, our greatest hope for conservation lies with our children. They are the next generation and the ones who will suffer if no changes are made soon. As important as conservation is to me, this research on petroglyphs has made me realize the impact of perspective on successful conservation efforts. While Western society is dominated by materialism and consumerism, Native Americans’ connections to the land are inspiring and need to be taught. Native Americans have a strong sense of environmental ethics due to their bonds with nature. [8] Every form of life, including forms like rivers and mountains, have a reason for being and are a gift. [4] This way of thinking is similar to some of the clichés many people have been told growing up: stop and smell the roses or slow down and appreciate the small things in life. Everything happens for a reason, but it was never applied directly to life and nature. With this focus on the value of life for everything, Native Americans place a large emphasis on the future of life. If the people before us did not have this perspective, what would our world be like today? What responsibility do we and our children have to make sure we are not leaving things worse than how they were for us? If we can leave the Earth better than we found it, why would we not?
Tips for Teaching
When teaching about Native American history or culture, begin with a land acknowledgment statement. This statement is given as a way to honor and respect the land and the people who have and may still call it home. [9] A guiding principle for indigenous people is the connection to land, water, earth, and each other. [10] It is important to ensure that this connection is not overlooked and that Indigenous people of today are not being discredited. [9] As an educator it is important to make sure that information is presented in a way that is accurate, unbiased, and inclusive.
Take the time to do thorough research. As I began preparing to teach about petroglyphs and Native Americans’ role in conservation, I began to wonder if I knew enough or was the right person to teach this topic. While I am not an expert, it is important to acknowledge gaps in what I know and aim to fill them. Help students find reliable sources to facilitate continued learning. Native American culture is diverse and varies by nation and tribe. [9] Focus on the information relevant to your area. If possible, contact local tribes and learn directly from them.
Avoid stereotyping and recognize that students may not have prior knowledge about Native Americans. Acknowledge that movies often portray inaccurate examples of Native Americans. [10] Emphasize that Native Americans still exist today and that there are a variety of terms they may use to describe themselves. Most prefer to be called by their tribal or community name but will use Native American, American Indian, First Peoples, Indigenous People, Indian, and Native. [9] Native Americans are a part of North America’s past, present, and future. [10] Incorporating the perspective of Native Americans provides another point of view and facilitates connections with nature.
Application
Applying Native American culture and art to education can be done in a variety of ways. When developing an activity to pair with a petroglyph visit, I found connections with creating art, storytelling, the circle of life, leave no trace, environmental ethics, and much more. Due to the wide range of people that come to the park for programs, the activity I created is designed for a variety of ages and group sizes. I kept it broader so that it can be modified for the audience. This activity can be altered for any Native American art containing symbols.
Jesze Doleh works as a Park Specialist in Missouri, USA, where she writes and leads all the park programs. She has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with a minor in Education from the Ohio State University. She completed this project as a part of her graduate work with Project Dragonfly at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA.
References:
[1] Bates, E. (2018). Can natural history collections support a connection to nature for young children and families? Museum & Society, 16(3), 369–382).
[2] Bouse, D. (1996). Culture as nature: how native American cultural antiquities became part of the natural world, The Public Historian, 18(4), 75–98.
[3] Diaz-Granados, C., & Duncan, J. (1993). The petroglyphs and pictographs of Missouri: A distributional, stylistic, contextual, functional, and temporal analysis of the state’s rock graphics. University of Alabama Press.
[4] Nature’s Role in American Indian Culture: Faust Gallery. Faust Gallery. (2019, May 20). https://www.faustgallery.com/natures-role-in-american-indian-culture/.
[5] A conversation with E.W. Wilson. (2008, March 31). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/conversation-eo-wilson/.
[6] Miller, D. (2014). A prescription for nature. https://www.npca.org/articles/914-a-prescription-for-nature.
[7] Sneed, A. (2019). What conservation efforts can learn from indigenous communities. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-conservation-efforts-can-learn-from-indigenous-communities/.
[8] Cornell, G. (1985). The influence of native americans on modern conservationists. Environmental Review, 9(2), 104–117.
[9] Burke museum. (n.d.). Tips for teaching about native peoples. https://www.burkemuseum.org/education/learning-resources/tips-teaching-about-native-peoples.
[10] [ESAVideos]. (2020, Nov.). Exploration of modern indigenous knowledge and the power of indigenous and western science. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Y10dyGRYDAE.
Activity Guide
Supplies: pictures of symbols, butcher paper or regular paper, charcoal/chalk/markers, or clay and carving tools/sticks
Begin with a land acknowledgment statement. Be sure to emphasize that while petroglyphs were made in the past, they are still valued and sacred today.
If paired with a petroglyph visit, utilize the recommended questions below to check for understanding. If not, introduce the petroglyphs and give a summary about them.
What are petroglyphs? Petroglyphs are rock carvings.
Who made the petroglyphs? Ancestors of today’s Native Americans. They could be men, women, or both. Multiple people may have contributed to the carvings or they may have been done by one person.
Why were the petroglyphs made? Petroglyphs communicate important events (births, deaths, rites of passage, adoption, rituals, etc.)
Show the group a common symbol.
What does this symbol mean? How do you know what it means? Where have you seen it? Does its location change its meaning?
Discuss how our culture influences what we think a symbol means.
Repeat this with another symbol.
Now put the two symbols together.
Does this change their meaning? Why or why not?
This is a chance to talk about vandalism and how it makes interpreting harder. It may not always be possible to see everything; a story could get lost.
Display an image of a symbol found on the petroglyphs.
What might the symbol represent? What meaning or message could be here? Try to make some educated guesses as to the interpretation of this symbol. Keep in mind the time period.
Did everybody have the same ideas for what this symbol could mean? There could be many possibilities. This is also true as people try to interpret petroglyphs.
Discuss possible meanings of petroglyph motifs.
Possible interpretations of a single deer motif 6
There is a deer in the area.
Someone wants to kill a deer.
Someone did kill a deer.
This territory belongs to the deer clan.
This is a tribute to my guardian deer spirit.
A combination of the above
There is more known about some petroglyph sites than others. Those still visited by Native Americans may be embedded with more insights about their meaning and significance.
Make your own stories through symbols.
Pass out supplies to each person or small groups. Ask the group to think about what is important to them. Ask them how they would depict that/them in symbols?
Give time for brainstorming.
Ask, if you knew the symbols you were creating would be around a long time, would you change the story?
Give participants time to create their own version of petroglyphs. Paper can be crumbled to resemble a rocky surface.
Have each person or group show their story. If a lot of people are in this activity, break into small groups. Each person will take a turn showing their story. The other people should try to interpret what each person’s story may be trying to tell us.
Was it harder or easier to interpret the stories of those with us today or the petroglyphs?
We have an unfair advantage of being able to ask the artists today what they are trying to tell us.
Give people a chance to tell us what their stories mean. Did anybody guess correctly?
Reflect on what we have learned today.
Based on the symbols we see or have seen so far…
What was important to the people who carved the petroglyphs?
What may they have been trying to tell us?
Do we have an obligation to learn from it?
How has this influenced your view of the land?
Has exploring the petroglyphs made an impact on you beyond this lesson? If so, explain.
Encourage everybody to research Native American tribes in their area further. Suggest learning their stories and continuing to pursue this topic beyond this activity.