The Sacred River (The Source, Spring 2020)
Many present-day river names are mispronunciations of indigenous names passed down over hundreds — sometimes thousands — of years. Penobscot comes from the Algonquin word Panawahpskek (“descending ledges”). Tennessee originates from the Cherokee word Ta na si (“gathering place”). Yakima may come from the Ichiskiin words Iksíks wána (“little river”). Anyone who cares deeply about rivers has much to learn from the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. Today, tribes across the country are using their sovereignty, knowledge and expertise to work for a future in which local communities and sacred river ecosystems can thrive. The rest of us should listen closely.