First, thank you. As we observe Thanksgiving in the United States, we are reminded of your generous support, encouraging words, and dedication to sharing Pagan news and perspectives, all of which have been vital to The Wild Hunt. We deeply appreciate everything you’ve done to help us thrive, from sharing our stories to sending us notes. Your compliments and criticisms help us bring information about our community to our community.
As the season of giving approaches, we know you’ll be receiving many fundraising requests, each for a worthy cause. Choosing where to invest your financial support is never easy, and we are honored to be among the causes you consider.
The Wild Hunt exists because of the generosity and commitment of readers like you. Your contributions directly enable us to continue our mission of providing reliable, thoughtful, and unique coverage of modern Paganism. We are proud to be one of the most widely-read news sources for Pagans, created by Pagans for Pagans.
Our team of dedicated editors, reporters, and columnists do their best to tell the stories that matter to our family of practices and traditions under the Big Tent of Paganisms —stories you won’t find anywhere else. Whether covering science, archeological news, amplifying community voices, or exploring spiritual perspectives, your support ensures that our community’s stories are told with integrity and care from a Pagan perspective.
Please consider making a contribution to The Wild Hunt this season. Together, we can ensure that our stories and perspectives remain visible and accessible to all who seek them.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
Tax Deductible Donation | PayPal Donations | Join our Patreon
As always, thank you for your support of The Wild Hunt!
President Biden Issues Historic Apology for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools Program
White House Logo
PHOENIX – In late October, President Joe Biden issued a historic apology for the United States’ Indian Boarding Schools program—a century-long federal initiative aimed at erasing Native American culture and forcibly assimilating Native children through a network of residential schools. The apology marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has formally acknowledged and apologized for the devastating policy, which inflicted profound cultural, social, and economic harm on Indigenous communities.
The president’s remarks came after the Department of the Interior released the second and final volume of its Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative investigative report. The report lays bare the scope of one of the most destructive assimilation policies in American history, quantifying its far-reaching impacts.
“I say this with all sincerity, this, to me, is one of the most consequential things I’ve ever had an opportunity to do in my whole career and as president of the United States,” Biden said. “It’s an honor—a genuine honor to be in this special place on this special day.”
Moved by a traditional performance preceding his speech, Biden reflected on the resilience and cultural richness of Native peoples. “I watched that beautiful performance just now, and it moved me deeply. It’s a reminder of everything Native people enjoy and employ: sacred traditions, culture passed down over thousands of—thousands of years… Long before there was a United States, Native communities flourished on these lands. They practiced democratic government before we ever heard of it, developed advanced agriculture, contributed to science, art, and culture.”
Biden traced the tragic history that followed, noting how the U.S. government broke treaties with sovereign Tribal Nations, stripped Native people of their lands and rights, and targeted their children to sever connections to their ancestors, heritage, and culture. “It’s horribly, horribly wrong. It’s a sin on our soul,” he said, referring to the atrocities of the Federal Indian Boarding Schools, where thousands of Native children were forced to attend—and where many perished.
“I have a solemn responsibility to be the first president to formally apologize to the Native peoples—Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Native Alaskans,” Biden continued.
The president’s apology is the culmination of decades of advocacy by survivors, descendants, allies, and organizations like the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Beyond acknowledging the devastating impacts of the boarding school system, the Interior Department’s report calls for federal policies to aid Indigenous communities in healing and to increase public awareness of the program’s enduring legacy.
However, the report emphasized that awareness and policy changes alone will not suffice. It urged the federal government to invest in Indian Country at a scale commensurate with the trauma, economic loss, and social harm caused by the boarding schools. Advocates argue that such investment is essential to address the historical and ongoing injustices inflicted on Native peoples and communities.
California State Parks logo
California to Remove Racist Slur from Geographic Names Across the State
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Nearly three dozen geographic features and place names on California lands will shed a racist term for Native American women, the state’s Natural Resources Agency announced Friday. The move follows a 2022 law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom banning the use of the slur “squaw” in future place names and mandating the renaming of existing sites, including streets, bridges, public buildings, and cemeteries, the Los Angeles Times reported.
New names for over 30 locations in 15 counties have been selected in collaboration with California’s Native American tribes. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names aims to finalize and implement the replacements by January 1.
In West Sacramento, for instance, local officials partnered with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to rename two streets using the slur. The tribal council recommended the name “tebti,” a word and blessing meaning “streams that flow together.”
“With continued consultation, tribes can lead initiatives to eliminate such words from California’s public places,” said Anthony Roberts, chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Council.
The full list of new names will be made public soon, according to the Natural Resources Agency.
The legislation, authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos, reflects growing efforts to address offensive place names nationwide. Ramos, a Democrat from San Bernardino and California’s first Native American state lawmaker, is a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe and a resident of the San Manuel Indian Reservation.
In 2021, Northern California’s Palisades Tahoe ski resort changed its name as part of a broader reckoning with the legacy of colonialism and systemic oppression of Native Americans and other marginalized communities. That same year, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland initiated a nationwide effort to remove the term from federal lands, impacting dozens of sites in California.
Osage Nation logo
Osage Nation to Reclaim Majority of Sugarloaf Mound in St. Louis
ST LOUIS – The Osage Nation is set to regain ownership of the majority of Sugarloaf Mound, the last remaining mound in St. Louis, thanks to a land transfer from longtime homeowner Joan Heckenberg. This milestone is part of a three-year collaboration involving the Osage Nation, the St. Louis arts group Counterpublic, and Heckenberg, who has lived on the mound for 81 years.
Counterpublic Artistic and Executive Director James McAnally said the transfer was a gradual and thoughtful process, shaped by conversations with Heckenberg. “It’s what she wanted, but it was also where she has lived for 80 years,” McAnally explained. “We wanted to ensure the process was supportive for her, and she felt this was the right time.”
Preservation studies will follow the transfer to protect the mound’s historical significance and restore it to its original form. Sugarloaf Mound, located between the Mississippi River and Interstate 55, is a critical cultural site. St. Louis, once called “Mound City,” was home to numerous Indigenous-built mounds between 800 and 1350 A.D. Most were destroyed by European settlers, leaving Sugarloaf as the city’s sole surviving example.
“Through collaborative partnerships and the goodwill of the previous owner, the Osage Nation comes another step closer to restoring this sacred site as it should be preserved,” said Andrea Hunter, Director of the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office.
The Osage Nation has sought to reclaim the mound since 2009, when it regained the summit. One property remains on the land—a house owned by pharmaceutical fraternity Kappa Psi. McAnally said negotiations with the fraternity have been positive, with hopes that the entire mound will return to Osage stewardship by year’s end.
Alderwoman Cara Spencer is working to pass a resolution, supported by Mayor Tishaura Jones, that recognizes the Osage Nation and its sovereignty. McAnally highlighted plans for an Osage-led interpretive center at the site, saying, “It really is about returning ownership and self-determination to the Osage, which is a truly incredible step forward.”
Arizona Museum of Natural History [Photo Credit: Marine 69-71 at Wikipedia CCA-SA 3.0
MESA, Arizona – Mesa Grande Cultural Park has been renamed to reflect its deep connection to the East Valley’s Native American history. The landmark, located near Country Club Drive and Rio Salado Parkway, will now be called Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki, a phrase in the O’odham language meaning “Blue Fly’s place of dwelling.”
The new name honors the O’odham and Piipaash communities, whose ancestral ties to Mesa’s lands are profound. “This renaming pays tribute to their enduring legacy and the sacred significance of these lands to the O’odham and Piipaash way of life,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said in a statement.
The site, a National Register of Historic Places landmark, is home to a large temple mound believed to have been constructed around A.D. 1100. Once part of a thriving Hohokam village that housed approximately 2,000 people, the mound likely served as a center for administrative and religious activities. Surrounding farmland spanned up to 27,000 acres, supporting the vibrant Indigenous community.
Purchased by the city in the 1980s, the site is now operated by the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki will reopen to the public on November 9, offering visitors an opportunity to connect with the rich cultural history of the region.
Ocmulgee Mounds Moves Closer to Becoming Georgia’s First National Park
MACON, Georgia – Macon is home to Ocmulgee Mounds, a historic park spanning over 17,000 years of Native American history. This lush, grassy expanse, dotted with artifacts from countless generations of Indigenous cultures, features the only spiral staircase mound in North America, along with a network of scenic nature trails. Now, a bipartisan effort is pushing to designate Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve, solidifying its cultural and historical significance.
On November 19, the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing to review the Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act(H.R. 8182). Co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Austin Scott and Sanford D. Bishop Jr., the bill would establish Ocmulgee Mounds as the country’s 64th National Park and Preserve. The proposal has strong backing from organizations such as the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Intertribal Council of the removed Southeastern Tribes, including the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Rep. Bishop emphasized the transformative potential of the designation. “This is another step forward towards realizing a longstanding dream that has broad, bipartisan support—not only in Middle Georgia, but throughout the state,” Bishop said. “It will historically create Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve, raise the profile of Ocmulgee Mounds, bolster the economy, and welcome more people to enjoy its rich cultural and natural beauty.”
The Senate companion bill also gained momentum that same day when the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously approved it. Senator Jon Ossoff celebrated the progress while recognizing the work ahead. “This historic and unprecedented progress toward establishing Georgia’s first National Park is significant, but more work remains,” Ossoff said. He commended the collaboration among representatives, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and local leaders for their advocacy and leadership.
For the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the designation carries profound meaning. Principal Chief David Hill highlighted the opportunity to share the story of the Nation’s ancestral homelands and forced removal through the National Parks system. “The impact of this bipartisan and bicameral bill will allow our ancestral Muscogee descendants to help tell the story of our homelands,” Chief Hill said. “We know the importance of these cultural lands and are excited to partner with Middle Georgians to reconcile our lands and stories.”
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) announced plans to send the bill to President Biden’s desk before the congressional session adjourns on December 20. If signed into law, this achievement would cement the legacy of Ocmulgee Mounds as a place of national historical and cultural importance, providing a platform to honor and preserve the stories of its Indigenous stewards.
Circle Sanctuary logo
Circle Sanctuary and its National Green Cemetery participate in the Wreaths Across America program, placing evergreen wreaths on veterans’ graves every December.
Learn how to sponsor a wreath for Circle Cemetery this Yuletide. Visit the link on my main Facebook page, Selena Fox Updates, or head to the Wreaths Across America website to see how to sponsor a wreath.
On December 14, 2024, at 11:00 am (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony), Wreaths Across America will be at Circle Cemetery at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve Barneveld to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.
Please help our location lay wreaths at as many graves as possible by clicking the red “Sponsor” button. All sponsored wreaths will be placed by a small core group of volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact the volunteer Location Coordinator at circle@circlesanctuary.org.
Thank you so much for supporting Circle Cemetery at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve Barneveld and Wreaths Across America!
Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen [via Nordic Animism]
Having lived and worked across various cultures, Rune incorporates global perspectives into his Scandinavian roots. He encourages viewing Nordic culture with the same depth and reverence as an Amazonian healer or Vodou priestess regards their own traditions. This approach opens avenues for cultural renewal and a deeper connection to ancestral knowledge.
Rune gave a TED talk published earlier this month and shared his insights on Nordic animism through online platforms, public appearances, and publications, making his ideas accessible to a wide audience. His work inspires cultural reflection and a collective shift toward ecological and spiritual sustainability.
Happening Soon…
Fundraiser to benefit the Hurricane Helene Relief efforts of Western NC
Ravens Keep Forge & The Tuatha De Morrigan proudly present Fulacht na Mór Ríoghna: Forging the Bonds of Community!
Join us for this Online ALL-DAY Workshop and sharing event to benefit the relief efforts in Western North Carolina. Not only is there a full day of live classes, many have donated recorded classes to also share with those who donate.
Presenters include: Morgan Daimler, Stephanie Woodfield, Christopher Penczak, Amy
Blackthorn and many more.
For a complete list of presenters visit the Event Page on Facebook
To register and donate go to: Raven’s Keep Forge Events.
The Icelandic Heavy Metal band Nexion released their single Gandr and it starts right up our alley…
I practice Witchcraft
I howl over the Naked Dead
I Reached below the rotten roots
And rent a thorn of torment loose
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck and Guidebook written by Casey Gilly, illustrated by Karl James Mountford, and published by Insight Editions
Card: Six (6) of Pentacles
The week ahead is liable to offer opportunities to both express and receive kindness and generosity of spirit. Whether the situation involves finance or an investment of time or emotion, the underlying energy of the week indicates the need to be open to not only helping others but also accepting help when it is needed & offered. Gratitude seems to be the underlying note of the week.
In contrast, it may be time to make some changes in where one’s energies are directed. This may be especially true as it applies to which philanthropic causes to support, but particularly in individual cases where past support feels like it was taken for granted.
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.