Indigenous Nonprofit Leads Community Clean-Up at War Eagle Park

On Saturday, the Great Plains Action Society organized a community clean-up at War Eagle Park in Sioux City, Iowa, in preparation for the upcoming 22nd Annual March to Honor Lost Children. This event aimed to unite the community through environmental stewardship and cultural remembrance.

Key Takeaways

The clean-up was part of the preparations for the 22nd Annual March to Honor Lost Children.
The initiative emphasized the concept of "rematriation," focusing on returning to traditional ecological practices.
The Great Plains Action Society collaborated with the Iowa Environmental Council to address local environmental issues.
The event highlighted the importance of preserving Siouxland’s Indigenous history and fostering community relationships.

Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship

The clean-up attracted numerous Siouxland residents, all equipped with gloves and trash bags, who worked together to restore the park. Trisha Rivers, the Siouxland project director for the Great Plains Action Society, emphasized the event’s purpose: "The overall sense is just bringing the community together and doing this out of a good heart, good prayer, good intentions, and just laying that foundation for the march."

Rivers introduced the concept of "rematriation," which focuses on returning to traditional ecological knowledge and practices from an Indigenous perspective. She explained, "How did we farm the land? How did our ancestors take care of this land? There was a balance within our own natural world, and so how do we bring back rematriation and not repatriation?"

Collaboration with Environmental Organizations

To enhance the clean-up efforts, the Great Plains Action Society partnered with the Iowa Environmental Council. Lexi Mckee-Hemenway, a campaign organizer for the council, noted the pressing environmental challenges facing Siouxland. She stated, "Siouxland is in this really odd position where we’ve seen a lot of negative environmental impacts from climate change, corporate greed, and people just not knowing what is happening here. Cleaning up our environment is one small step we can take to preserve not only the land but the animals who live here and the people who walk on this earth."

Honoring Indigenous History

The clean-up at War Eagle Park serves a dual purpose: it not only addresses environmental concerns but also honors the rich Indigenous history of the area. Rivers remarked, "It’s the fabric of Sioux City. We have the story of Teddy Bruguier and Chief War Eagle who have made friendships with each other, so a non-native and a native making this friendship with each other and laying that foundation."

The event aims to foster collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, particularly in addressing environmental issues and raising awareness about native-centered concerns, such as the foster care system.

Upcoming Events

The Annual Memorial March to Honor Lost Children is scheduled to commence at War Eagle Park on November 27 at 8 AM. This march will further highlight the importance of community solidarity and remembrance of lost Indigenous children, continuing the work initiated during the clean-up.