Earth Day, Every Day: Protecting Uŋči Makȟá

The mid-twentieth century marked an important environmental shift in the history of the United States. “Smog” – a combination of industrial smoke and fog – was a major concern, as was the lack of water quality standards, riding pollution, and a massive oil spill in California. In particular, the 1970s served as a background for major regulatory action for the protection of the air we breathe – through the Clean Air Act of 1970 – and the water we consume – through the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. A contributing factor to this shift occurred when a U.S. Senator, Gaylor Nelson, founded a grassroots movement that eventually led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and landmark laws protecting the environment. The grass roots movement he founded on April 22, 1970, was called Earth Day, and it has been recognized annually since.

Thousands of years before the first Earth Day was proclaimed, Indigenous peoples held Uŋči Makȟá (Grandmother Earth) sacred. Viewing the Earth as a caring, living entity to be respected and revered, the people of the Očéti Šakówiŋ have always believed that humans belong to the land rather than owning it. Indeed, the philosophy of Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ (“we are all related”) embraces the belief that all of creation is made up of interconnected relatives, including humans, animals, plants, rocks, and the soil. Water, believed to be the blood of Grandmother Earth, is held as the first living being and the sacred source of life with its own sprit and consciousness; the phrase “Mní wičhóni” (“water is life”) is a reflection of that belief. Indigenous peoples around the world share this reverence for the Earth and its natural resources, not just on Earth Day, but every day.

Today, mainstream cultures around the world recognize Earth Day as an annual celebration – commemorated by nearly a billion people in nearly 200 countries worldwide – focusing on sustainability and climate action. SDHC is proud to encourage and participate in those efforts through our programs and events, including the annual Festival of Books. We invite you to join us in those efforts.