Why the Leaves Change Color

For many people, the most exciting part of fall is when the leaves change color. Cultures from around the world have many different explanations for why this occurs.

Stands Among Elk (Meherrin Nation) tells the story of why the leaves change color according to the Meherrin people. This magical story provides another worldly explanation for a natural phenomenon. However, the Indigenous philosopher Vine Deloria Jr. (Dakota) points out you can believe science and myth at the same time.

How do stories about nature impact the way we thinkabout the environment?

Indigenous Land Relationships in the Carolinas

An Interactive Audio Tour created by Quinn Smith through the Equity Through Stories Program

This tour features 12 short audio recordings of Indigenous people telling their own stories connected to their relationship with the land.

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Jump to another point in the tour:

• We Are Here
• A Living Land Acknowledgement
• Common Misconceptions
• What is Nature?
• The Meherrin’s Medicines
• The Four Sacred Herbs
• Indigenous Medicinal Plants
• Pine Needle Art: Vickie’s Story
• Who Owns Seeds?
• Birdsongs
• Listen to the World Speak
• Indigenous Fire Practices
• How to Support Indigenous Peoples
• The Story of the White Corn
• The Story of the Three Sisters
• Growing up in Hillsborough, 1940s
• Rethinking Traditional Plants

About Quinn Smith, Jr.

Quinn is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, majoring in public policy with a documentary studies certificate. As a documentarian, Quinn strives to challenge our misconceptions of Indigenous people by documenting a long-silenced, shared humanity.

What drew Quinn to the Equity through Stories Program was the ability to uplift Indigenous truths and to forge reciprocal relationships with Indigenous people throughout the Carolinas. Quinn does this by interviewing Indigenous people about their relationships with the land and weaving their stories into audio documentaries to be exhibited at the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. He also initiates seed-sharing and other reciprocal ventures between Indigenous peoples and Blomquist Gardens. Quinn hopes that his work will help to re-educate Duke Garden’s 500,000+ annual visitors and to create a healing space for Indigenous people.

Visit Quinn's website here.