In The Return, Adrain Chesser and Timothy White Eagle have collaborated to lead us on a mystical journey into contemporary “back to the land” communities. With an evocative combination of color portraits and landscapes paired with White Eagle’s poetry and prose, the two have created a mighty picture of how things once were and, perhaps, could be again. With more and more people realizing that modern life is inherently flawed, wasteful, and hollow, we sincerely hope this project will serve as a touchstone to those interested in living differently.
—The Editors
For the First People, domination of the natural world was an unknown concept. When Europeans came, their power was undeniable, and their ideas of domination and God directly contradicted the First People’s ideals. The European attitudes toward the indigenous world felt literally monstrous to the First People.
With the European triumph, vital aspects of the rich culture of the First People were lost. Some important threads of indigenous wisdom survived through verbal tradition, songs, stories, and rituals. A few Elders held these and passed on to new generations ancient ideas and prophecies for the future.
Now a growing number of people are looking for a harmony they find lacking in contemporary life. Many people hear a thread or two of indigenous wisdom and find it appealing. Only a few explore the ideals in depth. And fewer still consider the primal step of living in an ancient way.
morning
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
The subjects in The Return are predominately not indigenous. Most carry European ancestry, and most come in one form or another from the disenfranchised margins of mainstream America. Most are poor, some are queer, some are transgender, some are hermits, and some are politically radical. All believe that major shifts are needed in the way modern society interacts with the natural world. These willing pioneers are stepping off into uncertain terrain, searching for something lost generations ago.
JP Hartsong
Stoneberger Creek, Nevada
in the wikiup
Arco, Idaho
Lopi
Wolf Creek,Oregon
In their search, they struggle to be released from old ways of being. Cars, soda pop, cell phones, and cigarettes follow them. Convenience has a magnetic power. Addictions, cravings, and desires are hard to break. These pioneers seek a new way in the world while still learning to let go of the old. These are uncommon heroes shedding layer by layer the learned domestication of the dominator culture.
These willing pioneers are stepping off into uncertain terrain, searching for something lost generations ago.
coffee
Arco,Idaho
in the cabin
Arco, Idaho
shoe tree
US-50, Nevada
The world was once a wild garden.
creek
Steinacher Creek, California
Fannie Bird
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
magpie
Deschutes River Canyon, Oregon
The Initiation by Amara Snakeroot Hollowbones
I light my wild dreams and seeds on fire inside myself
May they grow strong and cared for
I initiate myself
Seed bearer
Wild one
Earth healer
Earth speaker
Earth dreamer
May my purpose and path become clear
May I walk in strength, full of knowing
Fulfilling my purpose here
May I hold myself and others gently and with patience
May I continue to decolonize and rewild and grieve and heal
And sing and sing and sing
May I hear the calling
May I allow myself to be summoned
May I walk with strength, empowered
May I allow myself to be me
May I listen to earth’s call
May I continue to earth’s call
May I know my place in the universe
May I remember I am loved and needed and incredible
May I know and trust myself
May I feel love and support all around me
May I hold myself in so much care
May I offer myself enough rest and support
To feel able to be called into action
May I be resilient in change and challenge
And weather the storms like a wildfire
—Amara Snakeroot Hollowbones
Amara and Ray
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
milking
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
camas prairie
Idaho
untitled
north east of Mormon Peak, Nevada
Burger King
Mesquite, Nevada
breadroot
Huddles Holes, Craters of The Moon, Idaho
wolf pups
north of Virgin Peak, Nevada
truck
Dodge Pocket, Nevada
cherries
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
bucket
Steinacher Creek, California
dispatched
Lost River, Idaho
blood makeup
Steinacher Creek, California
waiting
Huddles Holes, Craters of The Moon, Idaho
blood moustache
Steinacher Creek, California
the Garden will go untended for seven generations it will be close to death a new tribe will arise
a Rainbow tribe the in-betweens the dispossessed and the heroic youth will be the first to walk this path this tribe and others will begin the Un-Spinning it will take seven generations for the Return to be made complete it will be a struggle for those who cling to what once was strength will find those who embrace what will be each generation will leave a layer behind each generation will be given a gift and so it will be until the people and the Garden are once again wild and freepulling for wildflowers Spencer Hot Springs, Nevada
horses Root Camp, Idaho
back of the truck Nevada
dressing a carcass Arco, Idaho
trek
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
steak with a hoof
Huddles Holes, Craters of The Moon, Idaho
Mikalia Deschutes River Canyon, Oregon
mouse in hand Dodge Pocket, Nevada
claw north east of Mormon Peak, Nevada
Badger/Bunny Dodge Pocket, Nevada
Dirty Skirts Geneva, Oregon
heart of the mother
water dance Deschutes River, Oregon
nightfall Virgin River, Nevada
longhouse
Wolf Creek, Oregon
knife
Dodge Pocket, Nevada
sleeping
east of Las Vegas, Nevada
Finisia
The Hoop
Once there was a wild garden
In the Garden the People were free and they fed the Garden as they fed themselves Monster who eats everything came and one by one taught the People how to eat BIG and how to be hungry the People became so hungry and ate so BIG they forgot about feeding the Garden Monster pointed to the west and the People followed Monster toward the place of dropping off and dying They walked and walked and walked along the way they ate BIG they were locusts in the field one by one the People came to the western shore they looked around Monster was gone and it was just the People now It was dark night In front of them wave after wave of dead ocean Unsure what to do next, one by one they looked up to Grandmother Moon and Grandmother Moon said “Behind the mask is your answer” and she pointed to Blue Star One by one they turned to see Blue Star as they stared into the light they saw the mask and waited and waited and waited finally the mask opened inside the mask one by one the People saw themselves they saw themselves eating BIG they saw themselves Locusts in the field they saw inside themselves the Monster who eats everything and that vision was painful So painful that one by one the people fell asleep Because being asleep was easier than seeing the ancestors came in dreams and whispered “It’s simple, just give back more than you take you have creation’s power in your hands” and all the People dreamed of planting seeds long into the night one by one the people began to wake and for the first time in a very long time they were not hungry And one by one they turned to face the east and one by one they took a step away from the place of dropping off and dying Stepping toward the place of new beginnings Still dark night, they walked cautiously and one by one they saw the morning star and one by one they saw the rising sun