|
I brought my video camera- but
Bob moves too fast for me so I only got a few minutes of video-
which I'll process later. I gave up on the video but did manage to
take a single still shot of an incredible cave. I've now heard Bob
talk about the cave at least twice but I don't recall the story.
Perhaps Bob can give a brief commentary on it.
Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Leonard
To: 'ENTS'
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 5:49 AM
Subject: [ENTS] Mohawk Trail State Forest
ENTs,
Here are a few more shots of our hike with Bob at
MTSF. My Biltmore stick was just a prop used to give more
perspective to the size of some of these giants.
The Forestmeister and Bob are in the second photo
looking at some northern hardwood old growth. Hey Bob I think
Joe deserves a tree to be named after him. I think he likes
sugar maple the best. How about it Joe? That one to the left of
you is a beauty!
Some other things I learned and other observations:
1. Bob told us of a big pine that was cut at MTSF to
provide a new ship mast. It wasn't easy taking down the tree and
I think it damaged a few on the way down. Afterwards there were
inquiries from some wealthy people who also wanted a new ship
mast from MTSF! Thankfully DCR said it was a one shot deal.
2. The field with the prairie grass big bluestem was
interesting. But it was kind of shocking to hear that the UMass
Ag Dept. plowed the field in an experiment which most likely
destroyed any archaeological finds that were there!
3. Bob told us about the bear tree by a cool little
cave. There was a bear who came around who liked to rub this
tree and left a lot of scat, etc. Well when a UMass wildlife
student went back and told his wildlife prof about this they
went back and scooped and scraped all the bear evidence and the
bear never came back! What's wrong with these UMass people
anyway? Well it's not a surprise to me since the UMass forestry
professors have betrayed my profession as well.
4. By the Elders white pine grove, there is a swath of
old growth hardwoods (in the 2nd photo) consisting of some
beautiful sugar maple and ash along with some decent size yellow
birch. As Bob pointed out, the richness of the site is indicated
by some of the understory plants like maidenhair fern. Even if
this area was not old growth, it would not be conducive for
active forest management because of the steep slopes and soils
which stay wet a great part of the year.
All of this proves that our public lands need more
than just Forest Management Plans. They need complete Resource
Management Plans that look at all of the resources of these
forests and then we can do a better job of zoning the wilderness
areas and those areas where silviculture and timber production
can be done.
The RMPs need to be done first and then the Forest
Mgt. Plans can be done for those areas that will be actively
managed. But as always the battle will be how much should be
wilderness.
Mike
Robert Leverett wrote (August 14, 2009)
ENTS,
In response to Joe's request for background information, the cave
area in Mohawk is an important site for a number of Native Americans
who, have on occasion, done ceremony there. In 1993 William
Commanda, the great elder of the Canadian Algonquins, and his
assistant, medicine man, Frank Decontie, graciously came to the site
at the request of Jani and me. Jani and I had met William and Frank
at Plymouth, MA the day before they came to Mohawk. We had met them
at their request based on the work that Jani was doing.
Frank held a ceremony in the cave. It was a powerful event and made
me keenly conscious of the spiritual powers that Frank commanded
even though it was early on in our friendship. Afterward the
ceremony, I asked Frank what he thought about the site and asked him
if he sensed some higher purpose for Mohawk. Frank was never one to
give an answer off the cuff. After due deliberation, he said that he
thought the area, meaning the area of Mohawk Trail State Forest that
he had seen, was meant to serve as a place of teaching and perhaps a
meeting ground for different cultures to share, and most
importantly, connect with the Earth. After hearing that message Jani
and I oriented the activities of Friends of Mohawk Trail State
Forest toward the mission of science and education. Frank Decontie
was later to serve on our board as a Native American advisor. He
also assumed that role for the Eastern Native Tree Society. Frank
was a behind-the-scenes force in both Friends of Mohawk Trail State
Forest and the Eastern Native Tree Society.
A short distance from the cave , the William Commanda and Frank
Decontie white pines stand vigilant watch over the fine Algonquin
Pine stand, which is one of the show pieces of Mohawk. The
Mahican-Mohawk Recreational Trail runs through the middle of the
grove.
I should mention that Frank was present at the dedication of his
tree. I think it met a lot to him and when I take people on a walk
through Mohawk, I visit Frank's tree and remember him for the great
work he did when he was with us physically and the work he continues
to do. Frank's tree is one of the 10 pines in Massachusetts that
reach to the historic height of 160 feet a towering tree for a
towering Native elder.
I should note that Native American connections to Mohawk Trail State
Forest and environs are not known outside of limited circles. The
true Native elders who visit Mohawk don't seek attention. Each has
an important mission to fulfill. I think Mohawk serves as a respite
for them, a place to walk quietly and reaffirm their Earth
connections.
I'll conclude with a list of w hite pines in Mohawk that have been
named for prominent Native Americans or for Native American
groups/nations.
Stand Name of Tree Nation Has visited Mohawk Trail SF
Algonquin William Commanda Algonquin Yes
Algonquin Frank Decontie Algonquin Yes
Algonquin Ed Perle Maliseet Yes
Algonquin Talking Turtle Pequot Yes
Algonquin Algonquin Pine Algonquin
Cherokee-Choctaw Jani Tree Cherokee and Choctaw Yes
Cherokee-Choctaw Junaluska Cherokee (historic)
Elders Saheda Mohawk (historic)
Elders Tecumseh Shawnee (historic)
Elders Crazy Horse Lakota (historic)
Elders Sitting Bull Lakota (historic)
Elders Sacajawea Shoshoni (historic)
Pocumtuck Metacommet Wampanoag (historic)
Pocumtuck Massasoit Wampanoag (historic)
Pocumtuck Frank James Wampanoag
Shunpike Joseph Brant Mohawk (historic)
Shunpike Oneida Pine Oneida
Trees of Peace Jake Swamp Mohawk Yes
Trees of Peace Joesph Tokwiro Norrton Mohawk Yes
Trees of Peace Tom Porter Mohawk
Trees of Peace Ed benedict Mohawk Yes
Trees of Peace John Brown Narragansett Yes
Trees of Peace Arvol Looking Horse Lakota Yes
Trees of Peace Paula Horne Lakota Yes
Trees of Peace Dave Chief Lakota Yes
Bob
Continued
at:
| 