Being Indigenous to a unique place provides a powerful source of identity for the original inhabitants of that land. To find common threads across a diverse group of Native American and First Nations peoples, we conducted numerous interviews on what it means to be indigenous. Beginning with our own reflections, we then turned to our friends and family and finally to the staff and students of the Northwest Indian College to gather further information. We found that although we all have different languages and cultural practices, indigenous people share a common connection to the earth because of our relationship to our true homelands. This sentiment is felt in the stories told by Lummi Tribal member, Timothy Ballew Jr., who generously shares his wisdom, teachings, and understanding of the Natural World. It’s important that we take the time to sit with our elders and learn from them.
