History, Vision, and Mission of Turkey Creek Preserve
About.
From Mary Lou Chapek, Wanagila Winyan
Respect and reverence for the natural world were values I first learned as a child; values I’ve held throughout my life. My sentiments parallel those of Albert Schweitzer, who noted “By having a reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world. By practicing reverence for life, we become good, deep, and alive.” In 1996, my husband Alex Hogg and I purchased a home and 12 acres south of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. Soon after with funds generated by MVP Laboratories, my veterinary vaccine manufacturing company, I began the process of reverse fragmentation by purchasing adjoining land as it became available. The area began to transition from home property into a natural habitat for wildlife. I partnered with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) to increase biodiversity and encourage research and education by University faculty and students. Upon retirement in 2016, I became the full-time steward. Later, I established the Turkey Creek Preserve Charitable Foundation to carry forward my vision of protecting, restoring, and expanding the property in perpetuity.
​
One beautiful September afternoon, on a hill overlooking the Missouri River Valley, I was honored with a Naming Ceremony hosted by UNO and the University of Nebraska Foundation. There, a tribal elder gave me the Lakota name Wanagila Winyan, Little Spirit Woman or Hummingbird Woman. Hummingbirds as pollinators are important to procreation in the ecosystem. Using my Spirit Animal as a role model, I have devoted my energy to procreation of many native plants and animals on the Preserve. I feel a sacred bond as the steward, not the owner of the land. In keeping with the Native American World Views, decisions are made with the best interest of the 7th Generation in mind. The natural world is not regarded as a resource to be exploited, but as a relative. My fervent wish is that you enjoy and appreciate the images of the land and the creatures of the wild that live or visit here.
​
As I look out at the land and ponder the future of Turkey Creek Preserve, I reflect once more upon the reverence for life that is at its heart. For millennia, the Umo”Ho” (Omaha,) Otoe-Missouria, and Ponca Tribal Nations loved and protected this land, and now it is ours to steward. This beautiful area of Eastern Nebraska with its wetlands, forests, savannas, prairies, and wildlife is important to preserve for generations to come. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation expressed it in a special way, “Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” And so our journey continues. It has been my great privilege to work with so many others who believe in the importance of preserving this natural habitat. May this book serve as an inspiration to those who love Turkey Creek Preserve and to those who will come to love it in the future. My hope is that this will forever be a place of peace and beauty, respected by all who enter.
Turkey Creek Preserve directives and limitations
The World Views of many Native American Tribal Nations are that the Earth is our Mother. She does not belong to us; rather we belong to her. We must honor her and all with whom we share the Earth: Four Leggeds, Winged Ones, Swimmers, Crawlers, Plant and Rock People. A Lakota proverb tells us, “With all things and in all things, we are Relatives.” These concepts form the basis for the way Turkey Creek Preserve is to be managed, both now and in the future.
​
My vision in establishing the Preserve is to protect and restore the land for the 7th generation and beyond. Because I believe no one can own the Earth, I see myself as a steward, caring for the Preserve during my lifetime and securing its future. It will be available for university level education and research by individuals or small groups affiliated with the University of Nebraska at Omaha or others at the invitation of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. There shall be no public access or use for recreation. Maintaining a Healthy Ecosystem is our collective goal. The Preserve must forever be a place where the Elements and all living creatures are respected.
Regarding Elements, Plants and Animals
Earth
The Earth shall be treated with reverence and respect. The Preserve will not be sold or divided and must be retained as one contiguous parcel in perpetuity. All motorized vehicles shall remain on vehicle trails unless necessary to maintain the Preserve. Four wheelers, motor bikes and motorcycles are prohibited. No killing of Plants, Insects, Arachnids, Birds, Coyotes, Deer or any other Animal is permitted from a vehicle. As much land as possible including subsequently acquired property must be restored to native habitat. Subsequently acquired property will be contiguous with the Preserve or close enough that it may become contiguous in the future. Land across County Road 38 may be added to the Preserve, but no land across Highway 75 shall be added. Human impact must be kept at a minimum, using practices such as recycling, erosion control, and limited access.
Water
Water shall be treated with reverence and respect. No motorized vehicles, except those with low-speed motors used for maintenance will be allowed on or under the Water. Specifically, no recreational vehicles such as high speed motor boats, jet skis, or pontoon boats shall be permitted. Killing of Fish, Crawfish, Frogs, Turtles, Birds, Mink, Beavers, or other Animals is prohibited from a vehicle. Human impact must be minimized using such practices as recycling, pollution/erosion control, and limited access.
Air
Air shall be treated with reverence and respect. No non-motorized or motorized vehicles, except for commercial or other aircraft flying at elevations permitted by law will be allowed to fly over the Property except as necessary to maintain the Preserve or in cases of emergency. Use of drones for photography or other conservation related purposes shall be permitted. No killing of Plants or Animals will take place from an aircraft by spraying, shooting or any other means, except in the case of removal of noxious weeds ordered to be sprayed by state or local authorities. Human impact must be minimized on the air by controlling pollution.
Fire
Fire shall be treated with reverence and respect. Conducting prescribed burns of Grasslands and/or Forests by qualified persons to improve health of the Ecosystem or to control invasive Plant species is permitted. Excellent fire safety practices must be employed to avoid unintended damage to the Earth, Water, Air, Plants, or Animals. No recreational fires such as campfires will be allowed except as appropriate for Native American programs and then only with adequate fire control equipment (i.e. shovels, water, buckets, fire extinguishers) nearby.
Plants
Plants shall be treated with compassion and respect. Non-invasive native Plants must be protected and restored to maintain biodiversity. Specimen collecting will be allowed only as it enhances overall knowledge and wellbeing of the Ecosystem. Limited amounts of dead wood may be taken. The Preserve Director shall monitor Plant populations on the Preserve. If he/she, using scientific counts or surveys, determines that any Plant taxa is detrimental to the overall Health of the Ecosystem or poses a threat to people, other Animals, Plants or structures, then the Preserve Director will inform the Property Committee. A compassionate management plan must then be developed and executed to address the problem.
Animals
Animals shall be treated with compassion and respect. Native Animals must be protected and restored to the Property to maintain biodiversity. No feeding of animals will be allowed except as it enhances native biodiversity. Specimen collecting is permitted only as it increases the overall knowledge and health of the Ecosystem. Live traps for relocation of Animals may be used only when the Preserve Director and Property Committee agree that it is necessary. No hunting, trapping, or fishing of any kind will take place on the Preserve except as provided herein. Leg hold traps or cyanide must never be used.
​
Every effort must be made to maintain a healthy population of predators such as Bobcats, Foxes and Coyotes to naturally control prey populations. The Turkey Creek Preserve Director will monitor animal populations on the property. If he/she, using scientific counts or surveys, determines than any Animal taxa is detrimental to the overall health of the Ecosystem or poses a threat to people, other Animals, Plants or structures, then the Preserve Director will inform the Property Committee. A compassionate management plan shall be developed and executed to address the problem. Selective controlled hunting or fishing may be allowed. Under no circumstances will Depredation Killing or Canned Hunting be permitted on the Preserve.
​
Killing shall be done only when there is an unavoidable necessity. When killing of native or non-native Animals is necessary, care must be taken to do this in winter, during the regular hunting season, rather than in spring, summer, or autumn when young are being born and raised. The killing process must maintain a healthy gene pool by removing sick or deformed Animals first, rather than those whose genes will strengthen the population. If possible, no Mammals, Birds, or Fish under one year of age will be killed. Selective, controlled Animal killing shall be allowed only until the imbalance or threat is remedied. A Native American spiritual leader, elder, or practitioner must be present during the killing.
When killing Animals is necessary, the Native American custom of taking life with sadness and gratitude to the Animal's spirit shall be followed. The suffering or death of Animals on the Preserve must never be the subject of mockery, joking, or celebration. Out of respect for the Animals, no photographs will be taken during their killing or after death. People shall never be photographed killing or posing with dead/dying animals. The bodies will be respectfully left where they fall to be assimilated into the food chain.
A Conservation Easement was donated to the Nebraska Land Trust for Turkey Creek Preserve in 2016. Other Easements will be donated in the future to help assure protection of more recently acquired land. These must be followed faithfully by anyone on the property. The preceding Directives and Limitations are intended to serve as my further instructions and to clarify my vision for the way Turkey Creek Preserve is to be managed for the 7th generation and beyond.
With all things and in all things, we are Relatives.
Lakota Proverb