Windows to the Past
Long, lonely backroads stretch from Kansas to the Dakotas and onward to Montana – the vastness of our Great Plains. There are few encounters and very few distractions – no phone coverage, no semi-trucks, few passing cars – nothing to keep your mind from envisioning and reflecting on the brave pioneers who settled on this land and the indigenous peoples who also called this place home.
The Lakota Sioux, one of the oldest and largest Native American tribes, date back over 2,000 years. Imagine as far as the eye could see—massive herds of buffalo roaming over the edge of the earth. The buffalo and Lakota wielded a deep connection to their spiritual way of life, believing that the sacred life is made up of parts—nature, land, animals and most importantly the buffalo. The Lakota formed a greater whole, the harmony of the Wakan Tanka - the “Great Mystery.” Regrettably, the Lakota were forced onto reservations in the 1870’s.
Into the midst of the Lakota transition came the 19th century settlers from east and abroad. These settlers came to the Plains seeking a new life, land to own, and a place they could call home—miners, cattle ranchers, farmers and the railroad all brought energy and hope to this new untamed territory. These pioneers dared to dream big. They had unwavering determination, unshakable hope and an incredible spirit. Thru the decades they laid the foundation for America’s success. Now, the remaining buildings and structures are barely standing.
Small town buildings, homesteads, schoolhouses, barns and farms, all were once alive with the spirit; now empty, abandoned, decaying and returning to the earth – a circle of life illustrated by the Lakota. When a Lakota’s life ended, they were placed on an elevated platform and their inner Spirit ascending to the skies, finally leaving the physical body behind, exposed to the elements of nature, gradually returning to the earth, forever nurturing the land.
It is our hope that these images, captured from the past, will be reminders of the celebrated dreams and aspiration of our ancestors. Please take a moment to reflect on the ambitions and accomplishments of these past generations. May we treasure these structures. Once these few remaining icons crumble, their stories go with them, leaving behind only a handful of memories.
All gone, just like the Lakota.
