Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1534028
68 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2025 Is there any particular victory that comes to mind – as you have gone through years and decades since then – that you can think of that you remember fondly? I think that there's many victories that take place, but there's a lot more struggle. It is important to try to look back. I'm sad to say they did build that highway through the wetlands, but we did hold that project off for more than 25 years. The wetlands preservation organization still exists, and they still advocate for protecting those wetlands, some that are on the current Haskell-owned side. I think some of the greatest victories have been getting land back to our tribe, seeing developers relocate a project to protect a sacred site. I think our battle at Hickory Ground, at Wetumpka, Alabama – to see the court of appeals agree that the district court failed to properly analyze the case, and that we still had merits and had a right to take legal action against those who approved and committed desecration of a sacred site. Looking back, I think success is also the partnership that we have in Macon, Georgia. That is a victory to see. I said this many times, but it used to be that we went to Macon to go to the park [Ocmulgee Mounds]. That was why we were there, and it's much bigger than that. Now we're there to visit the park, the community, the city, whether that's local politicians, tourism, or art. To see the commitment and hard work of everybody, to see Muscogee artists featured in Macon and to see our Muscogee language on the streets – those are all victories. How can Maconites become better stewards of this place, that of course, distinctly belonged for thousands of years to the Muscogee? I think I would encourage Maconites to continue to support these initiatives, to come out and see the Muscogee Nation when they're in town, to learn their roots and history. I think it's very special, the diverse history in the community, whether it is music, history, whether it is tribal or Indigenous. I think that all of those things are connected, and everyone has a part and piece in that. We should honor everybody and everything. I often wonder about all the great musicians that came through Macon and how they were possibly influenced by the mounds, or living along the Ocmulgee River, or seeing the landscape. I think that that plays a role in whether it's understood or not or acknowledged. I think whether you like it or not, it all is part of the specialness that is Macon. Where might the nation want stronger action in terms of preservation in the homelands? There are many places in peril, unfortunately. One of the biggest in Georgia is actually the Okefenokee the Army Corps of Engineers, they would say, "Well, these scientists said that there was nothing there. Our experts said there was nothing there." I thought, well, where are the native experts? Our elders are experts and they're telling you that this is a special place. Why was there a difference between Indigenous knowledge versus Western science – and that you had to have a degree with letters behind your name in order to be heard or be a part of this process. At that point, it was my goal to learn as much as I could to try to be that voice, to be the Native scientist that who could talk for both. LEFT In March, Butler poses under the Muscogee flag flying at Standing Peachtree in Atlanta.