Oo’exan/Hoh’oe– earth/land

For generations, the environment has played a central role in the Northern Cheyenne culture. Our people believed that plants, animals, and people all have spirits that originated with and descended from creator-god, (Maheo’). Sweet Medicine (Motse’eoeve’) a prophet who appeared to the Cheyenne people taught us how to live; principles of conduct, hunting, when to plant and harvest, how to use fire, and created the societies that govern our people. Our people are spiritual beings traveling through the earthly realm and tasked to care for and leave earth/land in a beneficial way for future generations.

Northern Cheyenne Tribe owns 100% of its subsurface interests and nearly 100% of surface interests.  This is a monumentous and unique accomplishment as not many federally-recognized Indigenous territories own this much of their surface and subsurface rights.  This historical win is embedded in and made possible through Northern Cheyenne values and our relations to land and history.  It is a tangible expression of the value in which the Northern Cheyenne people hold our remaining homeland, which many Tribal members regard as a sacred trust inherited from our forebears. Today, it is of vital importance that our tribe maintain our environment for future generations. We aim to preserve air, water, and land so our plants, animals, and people will continue to prosper.