We Know We Belong to the Land
We Know We Belong to the Land installation art by Molly O'Connor
I saw this on my urban trek to work yesterday. I discovered through a Facebook post, yesterday, what it's all about.
On April 22, Oklahomans commemorate the anniversary of the first of seven Land Runs that took place to settle the “Unassigned Lands.”
This is also the day that the rest of the world celebrates Earth Day.
This installation sheds light on the longstanding relationships between humans and land. Long before white settlers staked and claimed Oklahoma, this land provided nourishment and life and home to native peoples for centuries.
Today, we live in a world that threatens the earth that provides for us. How can we all make a commitment to protect the earth, both locally and globally? How can we set differences aside to preserve and protect the land that sustains us?
If you happen upon this art installation, please “unstake” the land and take one of the white flags of surrender with you. Make a commitment to be a better steward of the land, recognizing that we are all guests invited to inhabit this wonderful world.
From this post I knew to unstake a flag as I trekked past this installation today.
I chose path.
what a cool thing to just happen to walk by! Happy Weekend to you both!
This made me tear up.
I love you, Earth!
Kathleen -
My ancestors participated in the land rush in OK - I don't know much about where they claimed or how long they stayed, etc but I know they farmed for awhile. I am so proud of the "land loving" lessons I learned from my great grandmother (who eventually ended up) down in Lawton, OK. She grew so much of her own food, never wasted anything and respected the land that allowed her to grow her family.
Thank you for sharing this installation - wish I could be there to pick a stake.
Do you know any resources to research the land rush families?
Thank you!
Liz
Love it! My family was part of the original land drawings, which is how the southwest part of the state was settled.
SplendidMinta - I know my family is in a book about Comanche County. Maybe other counties put out books to? The Oklahoma Historical Society should be a resource, and Oklahoma Territorial museum might be worth a try.
This is a block over from me and I wondered what it was all about! I will have my boys take a flag and promise to be good stewards of the land...hopefully to the garden we are planting in our backyard! :) Thanks! p.s. love your blog! :)
Erin
This is such a cool installation! Such a meaningful idea.
Thank you so much for posting about this! Sunday evening when I left a friend's apartment on Robinson, I saw this house. I knew what to do. I unstaked and brought home Creek.
Sorry that I'm just now getting to these comments.
I'm so glad everyone enjoyed this as much as I did.
SplendidMinta - I don't have resources but librarians are always super helpful when it comes to that kind of stuff. Thanks for chiming in Chelsey. While I do have some Native American heritage I don't have a card or papers of any kind.
Erin - Thank you, neighbor!
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