Imports, Transplants and Natives

It was a lovely day down by Tilikum Crossing - the new bridge over the Willamette River. The name means Bridge of the People in the Chinuk language of people native to this valley. With my granddaughter and daughter in law I went to the ceremony that acknowledged several pieces of artwork placed at the foot of the bridge. The artist, Greg Robinson, is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and the Tribes gifted the artwork to the City. Several members of the Tribes spoke. In the invocation a tribal member gave thanks for the land, the place, the beauty, for art, for all people gathered, for his people, especially for those who once lived in this place, who were forcibly taken away to a reservation, but who have by now returned. There was thanks given to the city leaders for working cooperatively with the Tribes to create the environment conducive to the artwork and the celebration. Honorary necklaces were given to the mayor and other government officials. The art is titled: We Have Always Lived Here.
Recently I read an article on nutrition written from an alternative, naturopathic perspective that advised against regularly consuming foods that come from outside of one's own bioregion and which are out of season as well. Humans live in particular places where, over time their bodies develop in tune with the natural forces including local enzymes, bacteria, and foods grown in the area where they are "planted." It seems that it is not the best for health and overall well being to jump from place to place or try to pretend that we are not part of the local scene along with all of the other wild creatures.
I find that native plants really do the best in my garden. Yes, I can get plants from other areas to grow if I work hard at it, but the native plants do their own work which I appreciate! Perennials take so much less effort because they are already in tune with the place where we exist together. Of course there are many imports which have adapted. Unfortunately there are other non-native plants and creatures that have no obvious local uses or predators to keep them under control. I constantly work to keep wandering English Ivy from taking over at the edges of the yard. A dear neighbor planted some many years ago but after she left the next occupants of the home let the ivy take over and now it is intent on spreading beyond the borders of the neighboring fence.
As a rule, I try not to be too hard on non-native plants since I too am an import, as are most Americans. My maternal ancestors traveled to the east coast several centuries ago from Northern Europe although my paternal ancestors from the Mediterranean can only claim a little over a hundred years. Like all transplants immigrants bring with them the various tastes in food, flowers, bugs and bees that they are accustomed too. Often the newly arrived attempt to recreate what was left back home by stamping out the native life. I understand the desire to make a new place seem more familiar especially knowing that so many leave home for reasons other than free choice. The wives of pioneer immigrants are an especially sad tale as so many left out of duty to their husbands and were lost in the vast plains of a new world without their sisters or mothers to accompany them through the days of their lives. Many died depressed and still dreaming of going home. A little English Ivy likely brought some comfort.
For some people a new place is an adventure to be explored and appreciated. They cannot help but bring some new life with them, but they don't demolish what already exists since then, the adventure would be over and nothing new could be learned. It is far too late to keep everyone, every bit of life in it's original place, but it is not too late for the native plants to come back either. We have learned that Echinacea with Oregon Grape Root is as effective in a tincture as Echinacea with Goldenseal - and it is cheaper and easier to obtain as well. We can plant old world summer annuals near the new world perennials and they can be good for each other.
I am glad that my grandchildren who have Native American ancestry are learning the ways of their Native American ancestors. I have no place to go back to since my ancestors were imported from so many different places, but through my grandchildren I believe that I am connected to this place, and through the wisdom of their people, and all first peoples, those of us who live here now, and pay attention, have the hope of growing stronger and wiser, and more firmly rooted over time.         

                                                    We Have Always Lived Here...