From Cussita to Bears Ears

Abstract

This chapter explores Native American experiential views of the landscape. Two categories of culturally important ways of constructing landscape histories are put forth: first, persistent places, as regularly visited locations; and second, portable places, as ways of moving important elements of the built environment. Persistent places are locations on the landscape that embody long-term and variable histories of residence, visitation, commemoration, and memory. On the other hand, portable places have witnessed so many groups pushed or pulled out of their territories and often buffeted across the Southeast without much respite that many traditional aspects of the landscape may have been lost—if not from memory, at least from routine encounters. Lacking the familiar touchstones found in a stable topographic setting, portable places become entities that, regardless of place, manifest the essence of a people. The chapter closes with a discussion of the practical and ideological importance of different modes of travel.