In discussing the topic of environmental conservation and restoration, a romanticized idea of returning land to an untouched, pre-human wilderness is often brought up. Even in practice, many holding positions of land management act in this way with the Wilderness Act of 1964 defining a wild area as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”
This idea, that wilderness is untainted and left by humans, especially in North America, is inherently untrue. According to a study from the University of Oxford, the earliest humans may have arrived on the continent about 30,000 years ago. Other sources claim anywhere from 14,000--20,000 years.
For thousands of years Indigenous peoples shaped the lands they lived on to better suit their needs. Instead of the destructive European view of land management that wreaked havoc on North America, Indigenous peoples often sought to be stewards of the land, taking what they needed and giving back in return, while having a high level of respect for the land they used.
This concept of a wild land devoid of humans was largely popularized by influential conservationist John Muir in his writings, making false claims the Yosemite Valley was untouched by humans. The Sierra Miwuk tribe had lived in the valley for about 5,500 years, disproving his claim. Though he is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the conservation movement, Muir had extremely hateful views on Native Americans.
The erasure of native land management practices in pursuit of wilderness has had devastating effects on the environment. For example, the U.S. Forest Service’s 10 a.m. policy effective for 43 years, required all wildfires be put out by 10 a.m. the day after being reported. This policy led to the suppression of natural wildfires that cleared underbrush, resulting in decades of buildup, creating larger and more destructive fires.
Not only is the wilderness idea harmful to land management, but it also erases Indigenous cultural history. Take the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, which spans over 1 million acres. Once home to the Anishinaabe people, it is home to hundreds of pictographs and native relics.
Suggesting an area is completely wild and without human interference is to erase the thousands of years Indigenous peoples have lived on and influenced the land the U.S. is built on, whether it has a wilderness designation or not. The Indigenous peoples adapted the land to fit their needs, resulting in only the most remote places to be without the influence of humans.
It is important to note that Athens and Athens County are on the traditional homelands of the Adena, Hopewell, Osage and Shawnee peoples, among many other groups. These legacies and histories can be found in the various mounds near The Plains, Ohio, and the Hopewell Cultural National Historic Site in Chillicothe, Ohio. The Friends of The Plains Mounds advocate for the history and preservation of Native American culture in southeast Ohio, with meetings held monthly at The Plains Public Library.
Ethan Herx is a junior studying photojournalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Ethan know by emailing or tweeting them at eh481422@ohio.edu or @ethanherx.
