The intellectual landscape of 19th-century America was profoundly shaped by the writings and philosophies of Henry David Thoreau, a figure synonymous with transcendentalism, civil disobedience, and a deep reverence for nature. While his works like Walden and "Civil Disobedience" are widely studied, a significant aspect of Thoreau’s intellectual pursuit has remained relatively unexplored: his extensive study and profound interest in American Indian cultures. A unique seminar, held in Aspen, Colorado, on June 3-5, 2005, aimed to illuminate this lesser-known facet of Thoreau’s life and its influence on his evolving American consciousness. This article delves into the details of the seminar and the revelations it promised, shedding light on Thoreau’s Focus on American Indians and his engagement with indigenous knowledge.
The seminar, entitled "Thoreau and the Evolution of the American Mind: The Next Step," promised to offer a fresh perspective on the writer, naturalist, and philosopher. Central to this exploration was the introduction of highlights from Thoreau’s twelve "Indian Notebooks." These notebooks, comprising nearly 4,000 manuscript pages, represent a monumental undertaking by Thoreau, a project that, according to scholar Bradley P. Dean, Ph.D., was likely intended to be a book that he never lived to publish. The contents of these notebooks reveal a lifelong fascination with American Indians, dating back to his boyhood, and demonstrate how this engagement significantly impacted his philosophical development.
The seminar took place against the stunning backdrop of a Rocky Mountain wildlife preserve in Aspen, creating an environment conducive to reflection and intellectual exploration. The setting itself seemed to echo Thoreau’s own deep connection to the natural world. The event was structured around the ideas presented in the five-part film series, The American Evolution: Voices of America, produced and directed by Connie Baxter Marlow and Scott W. Snare. This film series delves into various aspects of Thoreau’s life, including his transformative experience on Mount Katahdin in Maine, which played a crucial role in shaping his mystical, transcendental philosophy. Furthermore, the films explore the connections between this expanded reality and the American Indian understanding of the universe. The series also re-examines Thoreau’s seminal essay, "Civil Disobedience," seeking contemporary insights into the evolution of consciousness.
A key element of the seminar was the presentation by Bradley P. Dean, a leading Thoreau scholar. Dean’s insights into the "Indian Notebooks" provided a deeper understanding of Thoreau’s motivations and the depth of his research. According to Dean, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thoreau’s mentor and friend, identified three personal heroes for Thoreau: the poet Walt Whitman, the abolitionist John Brown, and Penobscot Chief Joe Polis. The inclusion of Chief Polis in this list underscores the significant role that Native American figures played in Thoreau’s intellectual life.
Joe Polis served as Thoreau’s guide during his expeditions into the Maine woods in the summer of 1857. This encounter proved to be profoundly influential. Polis, with his intimate knowledge of the natural world, was able to identify the medicinal properties of nearly every plant Thoreau encountered. This practical, applied knowledge deeply impressed Thoreau, reinforcing his belief in the value of indigenous wisdom.
Beyond his practical skills, Polis also embodied a fascinating synthesis of white and Native American cultures. He lived in a well-appointed house on Maine’s Indian Island, demonstrating his integration into the modern world, while simultaneously thriving in the wilderness and serving as an effective leader within his community. Thoreau admired Polis’s ability to navigate both worlds, seeing in him a model for the integration of Native American insights into the emerging American culture.
The seminar also highlighted Thoreau’s often-overlooked role as a pioneering ethnologist. His primary scientific focus was the study of the Algonquin Indians, reflecting his commitment to understanding and documenting indigenous cultures. This dedication to ethnographic research further demonstrates the depth of his engagement with Native American societies.
The film series, The American Evolution, added another layer of understanding to Thoreau’s relationship with Native American cultures. Filmed on location in Concord, Massachusetts, and New York City, the series features interpretations of Thoreau by Richard Smith, alongside perspectives from Arnie Neptune, a Penobscot Tribal Elder; Imam Feisal Rauf, an American Muslim; and Kyriacos Markides, a Greek American author and sociologist. Through these diverse voices, the film weaves a tapestry of ideas that encourages a new way of thinking about American identity and its relationship to the land.
Arnie Neptune’s perspective was particularly insightful. He noted that Thoreau’s Focus on American Indians allowed him to experience and respect the land in a way that mirrored indigenous practices. Neptune saw Thoreau as a model for the "white part of the four colors of humanity," each with a unique purpose, now coming together to heal both ourselves and Mother Earth. This sentiment reflects a vision of collaboration and mutual respect between different cultures, working together to address shared challenges.
Connie Baxter Marlow, the producer and director of The American Evolution, emphasized the relevance of Thoreau’s mystical experiences to contemporary society. Just as his essay, "Civil Disobedience," had a profound impact on the political arena through the influence of figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Marlow believed that the time was ripe for Thoreau’s mystical insights to come to light and inspire a new era of consciousness.
The seminar was held in conjunction with a photography exhibit, "Rhythms of Creation: A Family’s Impressions of Indigenous Peoples of the World," which was displayed at Aspen’s Red Brick Center for the Arts throughout June. This exhibit further explored the evolution of the American mind from a new perspective, seeking a pathway to the elusive "inalienable" rights of peace, life, liberty, and happiness. Marlow argued that these rights could be achieved through a combination of American Indian and European visions, as promised in the American Constitution. The exhibit, therefore, complemented the seminar by providing a visual and artistic exploration of the themes being discussed.
The events were co-sponsored by Native Voices Foundation (NVF), a Colorado-based non-profit organization that works to inspire U.S. ski communities to welcome their tribes back to their ancestral mountains for skiing, snowboarding, and the sharing of their earth-honoring culture. Friends of Earth People, Marlow’s foundation, also co-sponsored the events, continuing its long-standing tradition of creating forums for visionary Elders to share their understanding of the universe. A portion of the seminar fee was designated as a tax-deductible donation to NVF, further supporting its important work.
In conclusion, the Aspen seminar "Thoreau and the Evolution of the American Mind: The Next Step" provided a valuable opportunity to explore the profound influence of American Indian cultures on the life and thought of Henry David Thoreau. By examining his "Indian Notebooks" and considering the perspectives of Native American elders and scholars, the seminar offered a more complete and nuanced understanding of Thoreau’s intellectual legacy. The seminar served as a reminder of the importance of engaging with diverse perspectives and seeking wisdom from often-overlooked sources. It highlighted Thoreau’s Focus on American Indians as a critical element in his philosophical development and offered a pathway towards a more inclusive and enlightened understanding of American identity.