Bent Trees in North Texas Lead the Way Back In Time

Transcript of Interview Published January 25, 2013, By DAVID SCHECHTER and WFAA.COM

Living history doesn't get any more "living" than this: a post oak, likely over 150 years old and bent by Native Americans for use as a trail marker.

HURST -- Living history doesn't get any more "living" than this: a post oak, likely over 150 years old and bent by Native Americans for use as a trail marker.

Steve Houser is a North Texas arborist and has documented about 100 likely trail marker trees, made by bending a sapling with a strap tied down with stones.

"I feel an obligation to do it for future generations," Houser said. "Because once they're gone, they're gone."

Just like we follow highway signs to find points of interest, marker trees often pointed to food, water, shelter, medicine, and low river crossings.

"Almost in total darkness, you would be able to pick out these shapes and it would save your life, said Dennis Downes, a bent tree expert from Chicago. Get you to shelter, get you to safety, eluding other tribes."

Houser shares his research about what he finds with local Native American leaders. He recalls one Comanche elder, in particular, who corrected Houser when Houser pointed out that the elder seemed to know a lot about nature.

"And he stopped, Houser said. He grabbed me by both shoulders and he said, 'We are one with nature.' And it still raises goose bumps on my arms when I think, 'One with nature.

In this case, by bending nature to their needs.

The video recording of the interview is no longer available online but the audio transcript is on WFAA's website.