Many suns have kissed the morning, many moons adorned the night
Come and gone full many winters, and as many summers bright

Across the broad expanse of prairie through the forest, deep and still
O’er the plains and up the mountains, roamed the Indian at his will

Bound by no confederation, scarcely knowing of its worth
Yet the Indians were the sovereigns of the greatest land on earth

B’neath the Pine tree’s friendly shadow, on the shores of lake or stream,
Here he pitched his humble wigwam near the water’s crystal gleam

Here he reared his sons and daughters, nature’s children plain and free
Temperate, Moral, True, and Honest, he knew no law but liberty

He heard the voice of the Great Spirit in the thunder’s rumbling sound
While whispering words brought him message from the happy hunting ground

By suns and moons and winters, counted he days and months and years
And in the spirit of the waters, read he all his hopes and fears

Thus, they dwelt for generations, in their own dear native land
From sea to sea and earthly Eden, with fish and game at every hand

Countless birds sang in the forest, anthems rang from all the trees,
And wildflowers in profusion, scented every wind and breeze

Paradise –or much the same–
long before the white man came …

Anonymous poet (presumably, Native American), published by Sylvester Norick O.F.M in his book Outdoor Life in the Menominee Forest (1980, Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, Illinois).

This is the sixth day of my journey to the land of the Menominee (Keshena, WI) to conduct my research on the Application of Landscape Visualization in Systems Thinking and Learning at the College of Menominee Nation (CMN). I am in the library (S. Verna Fowler Library, CMN), trying to get as much information as possible about the history of Menominee, its culture (which I am already impressed by), and the traditional approaches to administrating land and forest (interestingly sustainable, I hope I can share some examples later).
I come across a book titled Outdoor Life in the Menominee Forest. As the author believes, he is the first one who “tried” to put the beauty and richness of Menominee into words. The poem that you read is the opening of this book. I surfed the internet, and no one has mentioned this beautiful piece, ever. The poem is obviously trying to illustrate a small part of land elegance before the colonization by the white man.

I have decided to share what I see, feel, and learn and document my short journey to Menominee here. Next time, I will tell you why I chose “Clans of Brothers,” as the title to this piece.

Stay with me if you are interested,
Ellie