Author and renowned Chicagoland artist, Dennis Downes, has released his book, Native American Trail Marker Trees: Marking Paths Through the Wilderness, published by Neal Samors. The book is a culmination of nearly thirty years of research—locating, documenting, protecting, and educating others on the history and importance of these great monuments to Native American traditions.
Native American Trail Marker Trees is a beautiful combination of history and nature with over 250 color and black and white photographs and maps detailing the history of trail marker trees. These trees were purposely “shaped” by Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans. These culturally modified living landmarks or “markers” pointed the way to natural landmarks, sacred spots, river crossings, natural springs, exposed mineral deposits and also served as exit signs off of the main routes leading them to their destinations.
Dennis first became aware of the trail marker trees in Lake County Illinois as a boy through local historians, his involvement with scouting and his own Native American relative. He has traveled over 200,000 miles crisscrossing the United States and the bordering provinces of Canada conducting field research and photographing the trail marker trees with many Native American tribes, local historians, foresters, archaeologists, anthropologists and arborists. He has been trapped in snow storms, ice storms, had to deal with some colorful country folk and their large dogs, local snakes, ticks, poison ivy, and hordes of mosquitoes, all while living and working out of the back of his pickup truck.
For those familiar with the depth and scope of Mr. Downes’ studies, it is inspiring to see the result of this 30 year study. There is a spirituality surrounding these trail marker trees—a link with a past that these majestic trees have witnessed. Throughout the book the author makes it clear that these trees need to be respected and protected, treated as national treasures.
The charming Foreword for the book was written by well-known Chicago ABC 7 television host and Historian, Janet Davies, who discovered a trail marker tree on her own property as a result of being introduced to Mr. Downes’ research. The book also includes research regarding involvement of many Native American tribes and Historical organizations going back over a century who contributed to the saving and recognition of these trees through articles, plaques, photographs, and ceremonies involving Native Americans, local historical groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy & Girl Scouts of America, famed Landscape Architects, Arborists, and the Department of Natural Resources.