Creating Sacred Earth: Exploring an Inspiring Example of Environmental Stewardship

Aerial view of Ocmulgee Mounds

B. Meadows
Nov. 12, 2022

I found an article from February of this year published by The Washington Post. The article describes how the Muscogee Nation from Oklahoma have been collaborating and working to designate their original homelands in the State of Georgia as a National Park in an effort to preserve the archaeology, history, and wildlife. I think this presents a great example of the ontological rootedness of indigenous communities. Even though the Muscogee of Oklahoma were forced to relocate more than a hundred years ago, to this day they still remain connected to their ancestral landscape and are aiding in the goal of preserving and caring for it (Mod 10, Pg 2.) The Mayor pro tem, Seth Clark, at the time of the article writing is also the Executive Director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative working with the Muscogee Nation to designate the Ocmulgee Preserve near Macon, Ga as a National Park. The change would allow Federal protection in place of state-level protections that have threatened the preserves with potential sales to land developers (Dixon.) Clark seems to have a genuine appreciation of the significant importance of preserving the territory, especially for the Native American descendants of original caretakers. Personally, I like to think that the late Deloria Jr. would be pleased with his sensibilities and efforts to protect the sacred geography (Mod 10, Pg 6.)

Speaking to Macon Magazine, Clark said of his work, “One of the most important pieces of this process is creating a lasting relationship between the ancestors of the Ocmulgee Corridor’s original stewards, the modern-day Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and its current stewards, our community. I hope that the work we’re doing to strengthen that relationship lives on far past my civic involvement.” Clark also said he feels the relationship between the locals and the Muscogee Nation has a deep and esoteric value to the community (Maddux.)

It’s exactly the kind of mentality that Deloria and other Native American leaders have been striving to educate and cultivate in Western culture for decades. The area contains hundreds of known archaeological sites and most important to Native Americans, is also the sacred site of the Ocmulgee National Monument where multiple ancient ceremonial mounds and plateau are located (Lund.)

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