Living Green in the Southwest: Learning from Indigenous People on Indigenous Peoples Day

More cities are beginning to recognize this day as Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day. This year Albuquerque joins Minneapolis and Seattle in celebrating and honoring Native Americans.

As we do remember indigenous peoples today, perhaps it would be good to begin to learn something about how they managed the land. Here's an introductory video:



[Sorry, if you get elpasonaturally as email, the embedded video won't show. Go to www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com to watch it.]

Check out the Woodbine web site, especially their page on indigenous values, values that can help all of us live more sustainably and ecologically wherever we are. 

It's not just managing the land, it is also how we use native plants. American Indian Cooking by Carolyn Neithammer is a good place to begin.

If you aren't into some kind of Spartan live-off-the-land diet, take heart. My friend, Jim Hastings, the Gringo Gourmet has some delicious recipes for you. Jim subtitles his blog "Bordertown Cooking with Jim Hastings". Prickly Pear Upsidedown Cake, Tomatillos and Seafood Posole and Mesquite Waffles are just three of his many delicious, indigenous recipes. I've now added the Gringo Gourmet to my recommended sites.