Getting to know the Original Stewards of the Land

Indigenous peoples inhabited Western Pennsylvania long before skyscrapers dotted the Golden Triangle and recreational boaters traversed the three rivers. For thousands of years, the abundance of waterways made Pittsburgh and the surrounding area an attractive destination for groups looking to enhance their trade routes and travel abilities.

Colonization had detrimental effects on Indigenous survival. The whitewashing of both the region’s history and that of North America as a whole kept Indigenous stories from being told. By learning about the original stewards of the land, we can preserve their culture and honor them as we utilize our parks, rivers, and greenpsaces today.

LOCAL HISTORY

One of the oldest carbon dated settlements in North America lies just south of the city at Meadowcroft Rockshelter in present-day Washington County. Somewhere between 16,000 and 19,000 years ago, Meadowcroft was originally visited by hunter gatherers moving throughout the area and remained continually inhabited until about 700 years ago. Meadowcroft’s popularity is believed to stem from its proximity to multiple nearby waterways.

While Meadowcroft saw many groups pass through the area, one of the first tribes to make a permanent settlement around Pittsburgh was the Adena tribe. Around 1100 BCE, members of this tribe settled in what is now McKees Rocks. Much of their story can be told through the mounds they built in the area. Archeologists in the late 19th century excavated human remains alongside tools and pearls from the mounds that are currently reside at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Research Center. Casualties of construction, all the mounds are gone today with only a historical marker noting their existence. (Seen below)

The region was then home to people of the Hopewell tradition followed by those of the Monongahela culture. The Hopewell were mound builders like the Adena before them. In addition to eventually having one of the three rivers named after them, the Monongahela were both hunter gatherers and farmers that had a wide-ranging trade network. The reason for their decline at the end of the 17th century is uncertain, but historians have suggested they could have been pushed out due to trade pressure or could have died off due to the spread of disease from arriving settlers.

Beginning around the 18th century, Western Pennsylvania saw an influx of tribes heading westward as they were forced to flee from Europeans. Delaware, Shawnee, Osage, and other tribes began settling along the three rivers and created settlements like Shannopin’s Town (Delaware) and Chartier’s Town (Shawnee). These settlements were important trading outposts as the British and French began to occupy the area. Tribes would trade pelts and other goods for materials like brass and steel.

With colonization efforts in full swing, the British and French followed the groups moving westward. This was disastrous for the Indigenous peoples as war, disease, and false treaties led to settlements dying out and tribes moving further west. The original stewards of the region had their land and homes stolen from them and their descendants have continued to face hardships ever since. In addition to discrimination and the prevalence of hurtful stereotypes, the US Government Accountability Office has concluded indigenous communities around the country struggle with poverty along with access to clean water and health care.  

TRIBES TODAY

Pittsburgh still has an active Indigenous community today. Recognizing that a lot of present day Indigenous peoples in the eastern United States do not have access to the same programs supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, The Council of the Three Rivers American Indian Center was founded in 1972. They not only work to support indigenous people in the area through programs like career training and early childcare, but they also celebrate the culture with an annual powwow in Dorseyville. The Council also found success in the advocacy sphere recently as Squaw Valley Park was renamed O’Hara Township Community Park due to the work of the Council (the original name contains a slur offensive to the indigenous community). 

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTs

There are no easy answers to the systemic issues plaguing Indigenous people in the United States today. Performing land acknowledgements and recognizing the original caretakers of the land is an easy beginning for those looking to raise awareness.

This process acknowledges that we are on stolen land and pays tribute to the first stewards. Performing a land acknowledgement before a meeting or activity can help raise awareness of the tragic past as well as inspire others to learn about our country’s relationships with the indigenous community.

“When we talk about land, land is part of who we are. It’s a mixture of our blood, our past, our current, and our future. We carry our ancestors in us, and they’re around us. As you all do.”
– Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe)

To do a land acknowledgement, find out which indigenous groups traditionally inhabited your area – https://native-land.ca is a helpful resource that overlays tribal areas on a map of the US. When constructing the land acknowledgement itself, there is no set form. Most statements begin by naming the specific tribes that cared for the land followed by a few words about recognizing these peoples as the traditional caretakers of the land and how we aim to continue their work and honor their story. Check out an article previously published on our blog below.

Practice land acknowledgement with Venture Outdoors.

Land acknowledgements alone are not enough to support Indigenous communities and preserve Pittsburgh’s rich indigenous history. They should instead be used as a starting point with the hopes of inspiring those giving the statement and those listening to take action. Supporting Indigenous causes like land restorations or donating to Indigenous organizations will compliment a land acknowledgement and continue the long process of reconciling with the past and building a better future.