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Outdoor Self-Guided Visit: Westchester Indian Trail Walk

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Outdoor Self-Guided Visit: Westchester Indian Trail Walk Outdoor Self-Guided Visit: Westchester Indian Trail Walk TEACHER GUIDE Welcome to The New York Botanical Garden! How could natural ecologies meet your basic human needs? Conduct a field study with your students as you navigate a self-guided visit through the Thain Family Forest along centuries-old original Native American-laid footpaths. Use the informa- tion in this walking guide, the suggested activities, and accompanying reproducible student field guide to help students gain a sense of place in history as well as find and identify the natural resources that Native Americans used to survive. Recommended for use for grades 4–7 ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICANS: migration footpaths. resources may exist throughout the The land the Garden encompasses, in- ABOUT THE RIVER: forest, but you might use a key to cluding the Forest, served as a travel- The Bronx River, originally called familiarize yourself with them further. through location and temporary over- “Aquehung,” or “River of High Bluffs,” night stop between East River shell by the Native Americans who lived and Some Plant Resources: fisheries and weather-protected interior fished along it, begins near the Kensico land. Native Americans who travelled Reservoir in Valhalla, N.Y. (Westchester Plant Use through here were part of the Algonquin County). The river winds 23 miles south Common Spicebush Treated illness including Federation, a loose group made up of through the Bronx, eventually emptying Lindera benzoin coughs, arthritis, and measles. 40–50 sub-tribes reaching from Dela- into the East River. It is the only fresh ware to the Schoharie Valley in New water river in New York City (the Hud- Southern Arrowwood Durable wood used to Viburnum dentatum make arrow shafts. York. son and East Rivers are tidal estuaries). Mapleleaf Viburnum Bark used medicinally The southern branch of the Westchester By the early 1600’s the river was used Viburnum acerfolium for stomach ailments. Indian trail came across Fordham Uni- for the purpose of powering mills with versity’s campus, through present day water power, and this continued into American Beech Food, compounds made Fagus grandifolia from bark and leaves Garden land and made its way to a ford the 18th century. A remnant of this in- used for burns, frostbite, across the Bronx River about 150 feet dustry, the Stone Mill, built in 1840 by tuberculosis. north of the Pelham Parkway bridge. the Lorillard family, can be seen today. Sweet Birch Oil of wintergreen for There was a cross-over trail (the Aqua- ABOUT THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS: Betula lenta flavoring, medicine, hung trail) which followed the east side The natural resources Native Americans birch beer. Saplings for wigwam building. of the river and connected the south used to meet their basic human habitat and north branches of the Westchester requirements can be readily found along Sugar Maple Sweet sap for syrup. trail. Acer saccherum Saplings/bark for wig- forest trails. Some signage pointing out wams. The Siwanoy (Munsee dialect–speaking) Some Animal Resources: occupied the east side of the Bronx Shagbark Hickory Nuts consumed. Wood Animal (*Past) Use Carya ovata for construction. Sap- River and the Weckquaeskec (Renenu White-tailed Deer, Hunted for meat, lings for wigwam’s dialect–speaking) occupied the west Elk, Moose * hides, antlers. arched roofs. side, but both tribes traversed both Frogs Consumed fresh or dried. Tulip Tree Dugout canoes. Sap- sides of the property. There were no Snakes Consumed fresh or Liriodendron tulipifera lings/bark for wigwams. permanent dwellings on Garden prop- dried. Poison Ivy Used to poison arrows erty, but there was at least one further Black Bear* Hunted for fur, meat Toxicodendron radicans for hunting and warfare. south, alongside the present-day zoo. and claws. Used grease for cooking, Sweetgum Aromatic sap for gum. At least two middens (shellpiles) were emollient/makeup. Liquidambar styraciflua Bark for wigwams. Ducks, geese, rap- Eggs collected for revealed on Garden grounds: one on Common Moonseed Fruits, roots, and leaves tors, cranes, herons food, feathers for robe the hillside where the present-day Ruth Menispermum canadense for stomach ailments decoration. Howell Family Garden is located and and skin diseases. Turtles Caught and eaten; another, located at Daffodil Hill. Shells used for rattles Hillside Blueberry Gathered and eaten. or other instruments. Vaccinium plallidum ABOUT THE FOREST: The Forest, which borders the Bronx Raccoons, Beaver Hunted for fur; Grease Roundleaf Greenbrier Roots treat minor skin used as emollient. Smilax rotundifolia irritations. Shoots edible. River to the west in the Garden, is a Gargantuan Fish Caught in season and native 50-acre, old-growth forest. Much Runs* consumed or dried. White Oak Acorns consumed. Dug- of New York City was once covered by Alewife Herring Successful resurgence. Quercus alba out canoes. forest such as this. When you walk American Eel Caught in fall using Flowering Dogwood Bark to treat malaria. through, you will walk along many trails weirs mounted at Cornus florida mouths of streams. which were originally Native American Skinned/dried meat. MORE “ABOUT” FOR THE WESTCHESTER INDIAN TRAIL WALK CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE... Page 1 of 4 H OW NATIVE AMERICANS overlapping sheets of bark stripped from BEFORE YOUR VISIT: FULFILLED BASIC HUMAN NEEDS: old-growth trees. Protected bodies with An effective Garden field trip begins fur from animals like beaver and deer. with careful planning and preparation. Food and Medicine Foraged: Generally sustaining hunters Take advantage of the free “Teacher and gatherers based on seasons and Pre-Trip Pass” to orient yourself with travel locations- Primarily ate local fresh the Thain Family Forest, Bronx River, plants (fruits, berries, leaves and nuts) and many Garden collections before and animals, fish, oysters, and w/no bringing your group. other choice, travelled to and waded in The New York Botanical Garden is a cold coastal waters to find clams and museum of plants in beautiful displays. oysters. Evidence of diet containing Wigwam at NYBG The Garden is lucky to have a river and shells, bones, and acorn caps learned by forest on its property. As a group dis- inspection of middens located outside of Childcare cussion, have students define a mu- wigwams. Children lived, played, worked and seum setting and implications of a river learned how to provide for themselves running through a forest in a city. Dis- Horticulture: Planted maize to supple- (foraging, carrying supplies) with the cuss the types of behaviors you use ment year-round foraging. Team planted support and assistance of their parents when visiting a museum. corn, beans and squash; Stored dried and extended family. corn, and beans in grass-lined pits in Advise students that while visiting they wigwam or longhouse. Preserved Energy and Transportation will need to stay on Garden paths, not squash, saved seeds, and dried and “Wood and Muscle”; Walking was main touch or pick parts of plants, and be smoked fish. form of transportation. Had to live/camp mindful of other visitors. Please take in close proximity to resources. Walked care not to litter in the river or forest. between coastal areas to protected This is an outdoor walk of almost one inland areas seasonally (carrying sup- mile and could take approximately 45 plies). Felled trees, built and paddled minutes at a moderate pace. Encour- canoes, built fires, hoed small fields. age students to wear comfortable foot- Communicated news while travelling. wear and to dress appropriately for Sense of Meaning: Money, Barter spending time outdoors. Gathered and caught food from Midden on hillside If you bring lunch, your group can eat beaches, shores and tidal pools and at the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions traveled across harbor waters to trade Water located close to the Everett Garden for corn, pottery, and wampum Obtained water from freshwater Gate. Restrooms and water fountains (decorative beads used as money– shells streams, springs and ponds; rain, and are located close to the picnic area. on a string). snow melt. Found groundwater aquifers (Plastic bag use is discouraged in the and released water for quench. Sense of Meaning: Spirituality Garden—bags often fly away and get Had a rich spiritual life based on elabo- caught in trees and animal habitats.) Streams in forest channel water to the rate belief system which included cere- Bronx River and then the East River, Download the student Native monial dances and storytelling. Storytel- American Walk Journal. Make a eventually emptying into the Long Island ling explained world and served as re- Sound. Forest creates natural barriers copy for each student to fold in to minders for fruitful ways of living re- a booklet. Bring pencils on the day of against flooding, and filters waste (no spectfully and gratefully within earth’s sewers) through natural microbial your visit. seasons and cycles. Bronx River held process of soil. AT THE GARDEN significance and was used for annual The Bronx River provided fresh, clean ritual baths If you arrive by bus, your group will drinking water and areas alongside check in at the Everett Garden Gate served as places to camp or live. TWO VIEWS FOR LAND USE: (School Group Entrance) and walk straight along Stone Mill Road until just Shelter and Clothing Everything in life is a circle. Everything is alive— before you reach a bridge. Take the Scouted for good campsites which met the animals, the birds, the plants on Earth and trail on the right just before the bridge criteria of: proximity to coastline (for the plants of the seas, the water, the air and which leads you in through a portion of the stones—and everything must be respected. food), fresh drinking water, relatively flat All things are part of Earth, which gives us the Forest toward a paved path next to land for building, and land formations to everything we need.
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