Residents will decide whether to remove or repair it in a vote on March 8th. Both sides fervently believe in the sign staked by the Oyster River, ‘This Place Matters.’ Here, two value-laden histories collide. The Durham Historic Commission states, “It will be a tragedy if we lose a historic, cultural and recreation resource” and continues, “We do not believe the dam’s presence is detrimental to honoring Indigenous peoples’ culture and heritage.” This historical view highlights the early 1600s when the industrial era dam was built for a profitable lumber business and extractive economy.
Historic value on colonial entitlement to natural resources is reminiscent of Robert Frost’s poem, “the land was ours before we were the land.” The “other” history represented by Indigenous people and allies understands that “the land doesn’t belong to us, we belong to it.” Indigenous inhabitants of Durham using sustainable harvesting practices for over 12,000 years have been its ecological stewards for 99% of its history. According to Kathleen Blake, member of Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective, “the Oyster River used to be clean and clear with abundant fish. It was treated with the respect and honor it deserves. It is no longer functional because of the dam…the dam should not be preserved at the expense of a healthy river.” Which historical values best protect the river’s future? Hopefully, not homage to an archaic stone obstruction but honor to an abundant free flowing waterway and healthy watershed.
Ann Podlipny
Chester