Reflections on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Exploring the remote backcountry is one of my favorite pastimes. It’s what influenced me to travel to Maine and work for Chewonki, and it has pushed me to explore ecologically, culturally, and historically diverse lakes, rivers, mountains, and deserts. Many of my fellow backcountry travelers refer to these areas as “wilderness.” Yet, for our Indigenous neighbors, this word carries weighty connotations.

The word wilderness appears heavily in 18th-century writings, most frequently describing desolate and wasted landscapes. The wilderness was somewhere you did not want to end up, and you might fear for your life if you did. 

By the end of the 19th century, the meaning of wilderness took a 180-degree turn. Influenced by Thoreau and other writers, people started to see wild spaces as worthy of preservation. Yellowstone was declared the first National Park in the US in 1872. Environmental historian William Cronon noted the shift, writing, “In a mere fifty years, Satan’s home became God’s own temple.”

Wilderness became a sacred space for many Americans, intertwining with our national identity and the myth of the frontier. Yet, this understanding does not provide space for the Indigenous people who have lived on these same lands for generations and continue to do so. In fact, the 19th-century concept of wilderness implies the backcountry was always free of people and should remain “pristine” forever. This understanding largely results from religious, historical, and cultural influences that ignore and disrespect Indigenous culture and history. 

Backcountry enthusiasts like myself are confronted with a contradiction here. The places we visit are stunning, and we want to protect them. Many of us also recognize the terrible things our Indigenous neighbors have experienced at the hands of colonial governments as well, and we want to participate in healing and reconciliation. I believe supporting Indigenous rights to health, autonomy, and self-reliance is a way to start. 

On this Indigenous People’s Day, I urge you to consider your own perspective on “wilderness” and how you can find language that respects and acknowledges the current and historical presence of Indigenous people on remote lands.