Thoughts on Indigenous

I am not indigenous. My ancestors came from other places. But recent reading made me think about the whole concept.

Googling tells me this:

“Indigeneity is a term that refers to people or objects that are native to a certain region or environment. For example, Native American nations and Aboriginal Australians are considered indigenous.

Indigeneity can also be defined as a relationship between people and the land. This relationship is based on the idea that the land is a gift that must be cared for over generations.”

I was reading a book by a Native American scientist, who mentioned this concept. And it really got me thinking. The they VRs them thinking could be one reason why so many just don’t care for the earth like they should. I mean I was born here in America, so were my parents and grandparents and greats.

When do we get to say “hey, we are here to stay, this is home. We would have a relationship with home and care for it like it is precious for the ones that follow in the future?”

The indigenous folks should be recognized and the ancestors respected. After all, they have had the longest relationship with the land here, and have so much knowledge (admittedly a lot of that knowledge was destroyed purposely by invaders.)

I’m not trying to erase or take away from that. I acknowledge that happened 1000%. I wish that history hadn’t happened like that. But it did. I can’t change that. I can only do what I can do living in the now.

But my question is, at what point can we say “I am not an alien to this land?” At which point in time can I say “I love and respect this land and want to grow with it and learn its lessons?”