Similar to Ohio Historical Markers, there would be visual signage placed throughout all of Ohio’s state park land.
This information is coming from Indigenous Knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is sustainable practices, skills, and lessons learned over time. There would be signs that target different areas, like hunting, fishing, agriculture, waterways and forestry. That knowledge would help educate within these respective categories that each encapsulates the perspective of Native Americans people, which considers ecological impact and the relationship between humans and the land. This would involve the following stakeholders: Ohio Department of Natural Resources staff, naturalist, Indigenous people, and frequent park visitors.
Signage would be made at ODNR’s expense, ODNR staff would collaborate and work strategically with Indigenous people and a naturalist to create the intended vision of the sign.
Pitfalls of this conjecture:
- Park visitors won’t stop and read the signs.
- Can’t ensure the signs will be seen by many park visitors.
- Where there are opportunities for TEK to be used, people aren’t motivated.
- How are Indigenous people going to be compensated for their time and knowledge?
- If every state park doesn’t have a naturalist, how will one be found and paid for?
Sources: Jennings, L., & Jennings, L. (2022, January 25). Land Acknowledgements And How We Relate To The Trails We Run. Trail Runner Magazine. https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/culture-people/land-acknowledgements-and-how-we-relate-to-the-trails-we-run/
