I’m always trying to better engage with the places I visit on my travels by spending time walking, living among the locals, seeking out the cultural peculiarities, learning the history, etc. As part of this effort, I have been using Native Land to learn about the original inhabitants of the land upon which I am temporarily living as I travel, so that I can acknowledge their communities, cultures, and the losses thereof in the face of an insatiable invader. By doing so, I hope in some small way to keep their histories alive, and to understand that my easy and endless travels have come at the price of generations of suffering. As I’ve travelled, this practice has helped me to realize how much detail is lost in any history, how incomplete every map really is. North America has always been vibrant place; the foolishness of reducing it to a map of territories becomes more apparent with every mile.

Here’s my travels through the peoples of Native America, going all the way back to 2016; my tribute to the original inhabitants of this continent, whose ghosts I encounter and try to acknowledge everywhere I go:

2016

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New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Wappinger, andMunsee Lenape (who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”)

New York City, NY: Wappinger and Munsee Lenape

Mexico City, DF: Mexihcah (triple Alliance)

Guanajuato, GJ: Guamares

Orizaba, VC: Nahua and Mexihcah (triple Alliance)

Merida, YU: Maya Yucateco

Valladolid, YU: Maya Yucateco

Luling, LA: Chitimacha

2017

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Luling, LA: Chitimacha

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Wappinger, andMunsee Lenape (who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”)

Chicago, IL: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Waazija (Ho-Chunk / Winnebago, Bodéwadmiakiwen (Potawatomi), Kaskaskia, Peoria, Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Myaamia, who’s word for the wild onion or ramp Allium tricoccum, shikaakwa, provided this city it’s current name after a great deal of French imagination and Anglo lack thereof.

Luling, LA: Chitimacha

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Poplar Bluff, LA: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Minneapolis, MN: Wahpekute and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, the Dakota band of whom called this place Bdeóta Othúŋwe which means ‘Many Lakes City’. The city’s current name was derived by setttlers using the Dakota word Mníȟaȟa which means “waterfall”

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Luling, LA: Chitimacha

Guadalupe River SP, TX: Jumanos, Tonkawa, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache), and Coahuiltecan

Big Bend National Park, TX: Chiso, after whom the Chisos Mountains are named, Mescalero Apache, Coahuiltecan, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache), and Jumanos

Lafayette, LA: Chitimacha

Luling, LA: Chitimacha

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Jonesboro, LA: [𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage) and Caddo

2018

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Luling, LA: Chitimacha

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Luling, LA: Chitimacha

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Athens, GA: ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Mvskoke (Muscogee / Creek)

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Little Rock, AR: 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage), O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Columbus, OH: Kaskaskia, Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Myaamia, and, long ago, Hopewell

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Wappinger, andMunsee Lenape (who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”)

Montreal, QC: Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee) and Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk)

Cambridge, ON: Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee), Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Attiwonderonk (Neutral), and Mississauga

Columbus, OH: Kaskaskia, Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Myaamia, and, long ago, Hopewell

Manitowoc, WI: Niúachi, Bodéwadmiké (Potawatomi), Oma͞eqnomenew-ahkew (Menominee), oin who’s language Manetōwak means “place of the spirits”, Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ.

Bismarck, ND: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ and Tséstho’e (Cheyenne)

Bozeman, MT: Apsaalooké (Crow), Salish Kootenai (Flathead), and Tséstho’e (Cheyenne)

Portland, OR: Stl’pulmsh (Cowlitz), Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Clackamas, and Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians,

Seattle, WA: Coast Salish, Stillaguamish, Duwamish, after whose Chief Si’al this city is named, Muckleshoot, Suquamish

Vashon, WA: Coast Salish](https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/puget-sound-salish/) and Suquamish

Boise National Forest, ID: Shoshone-Bannock

Salt Lake City, UT: Goshute, Eastern Shoshone, and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, whom the neighboring Pueblo called Utes, or mountain people, and after whom the state of Utah is named.

Denver, CO: hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ (Arapaho), Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Little Rock, AR: 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage), O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

2019

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Gretna, LA: Houma and Chitimacha

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Thibodeaux, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Columbus, MO: Kaskaskia, Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Myaamia, and, long ago, Hopewell

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Wappinger, andMunsee Lenape (who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”)

New York City, NY: Wappinger and Munsee Lenape

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Wappinger, andMunsee Lenape (who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”)

Columbus, OH: Kaskaskia, Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Myaamia, and, long ago, Hopewell

Statham GA: ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) and Mvskoke (Muscogee / Creek)

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Wappinger, andMunsee Lenape (who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

2020

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New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Poplar Bluff, MO: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw), and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

St George Island, FL: Mvskoke (Muscogee / Creek)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Ruston, LA: [𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage) and Caddo, and O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Asheville and Brevard, NC: ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) and S’atsoyaha (Yuchi)

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

2021

Golden Meadow, LA: Chitimacha and Houma

Savannah, GA: Mvskoke (Muscogee/Creek) and Yamassee

Carrollton, VA: Nansemond and Warraskoyack

Wilmington, DE: Lenape Haki-nk (Lenni-Lenape)

Poughkeepsie, NY: Mohican, Munsee Lenape, and Wappinger, who are said to have named this place roughly U-puku-ipi-sing, which means “the reed-covered lodge by the little-water place”

Florence, KY: Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Eastern Cherokee, Osage, Kaskaskia, and, long ago, Hopewell and Adena

Maumelle, AR: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux), O-ga-xpa (Quapaw), and Osage

New Orleans, LA: Chitimacha and Chahta Yakni (Choctaw)

Louisville, KY: Kaskaskia, Osage, Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Myaamia, and, long ago, Hopewell and Adena

Columbus, OH: Kaskaskia, Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), Myaamia, and, long ago, Hopewell

Madison, WI: Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Peoria, Sauk & Meskwaki, Myaamia, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Ho-Chunk / Winnebago, who called this place Taychopera, meaning “land of the four lakes.”

Appleton, WI: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Ho-Chunk / Winnebago, Myaamia, and Menominee

Sioux Falls, SD: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, who called this place Íŋyaŋ Okábleča Otȟúŋwahe, meaning “Stone Shatter City.”

Omaha, NE: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ and Omaha or Umoⁿhoⁿ tóⁿde ukʰéthiⁿ, “dwellers of the bluff,” for whom this city is named.

Cheyenne, WY: Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Arapaho, and Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), for whom this city is named.

Salt Lake City, UT: Goshute, Eastern Shoshone, and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, whom the neighboring Pueblo called Utes, or mountain people, and after whom the state of Utah is named.

Dolores, CO: Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), and very much the Pueblos.

Santa Fe, NM: Jicarilla Apache and Pueblos, who called this place Oghá P’o’oge, meaning “White Shell Water Place.”

Albuquerque, NM: Various Pueblos as well as extensive trade and cultural exchange with Apache such as Jicarilla and Mescalero, Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ (Comanche), and Diné Bikéyah (Navajo).

Las Cruces, NM: Tampachoa (Mansos), Mescalero Apache, Piro, and Chiricahua Apache.