The Susquehanna River once flowed through a pristine landscape, its waters glistening under uninterrupted skies. Bucknell University, in collaboration with WVIA, unveils this forgotten past in their documentary, “Peoples of the Susquehanna River.” This captivating film delves into the lives of the region’s indigenous inhabitants, showcasing their deep connection with the natural world.
Many professionals were consulted and information from various sources was gathered to produce the information displayed in the documentry. Many artifacts, including pots, pipes, and charcoal, were discovered. When pointing out the age of the charcoal, “It was placed there approximately 1,000 years ago” explains one professional on the topic of the discovered charcoal pits.
Paul Nevian explained that “people would come to these places to come closer to the creator,” when touching on the rock art scattered along the Susquehanna. This art is only ¼ of an inch and during the day, the images are hard to see, but as the sun sets, the images seemingly come alive.
The narrator of the documentary explained areas such as Turtle Island drastically changed as time went on. It is recognized that corn is a major reason for the change in the communities as people started to settle down and build connections.
Much has changed throughout the decades, but the concept of holding onto your roots is strong. From diet to children’s toys, descendants are attempting to bring back these ways of life. Pennsylvania was even seen as a haven. Although initially seen as a test, Pennsylvania became a haven to native Americans as it was here that they were given similar rights.