NARRATOR: These silver vases, with gleaming images of native animals and the Roman gods of commerce and agriculture, hold contradictions for a modern audience. They were gifts for the governor of New York, who led efforts for the Erie Canal's construction.

They are clearly intended to celebrate a triumph. But at what cost?

Lemir Teron, associate professor at Howard University in the Department of Earth, Environment and Equity.

LEMIR TERON: To some folks, the Erie Canal meant economic expansion, westward expansion, manifest destiny, opening up commerce to the west at a much less expensive price. It meant that New York State was expanding and establishing itself as a global economic power.

NARRATOR: Looking closely at both sides of the vases, you’ll notice figures gazing out at peaceful scenes that belie a more complex history. Environmental Researcher Renée Barry explains.

RENÉE BARRY: There are different vistas here. On one of the scenes we see two people looking out over the Erie Canal. They seem to be admiring the Erie Canal as this magnificent work. There is another vista represented, of an indigenous man looking down at a tree that was chopped down, presumably for the construction of the Canal. He’s contemplating, I imagine, the deforestation that was necessary to make the Erie Canal. It’s important to really look at what ‘progress’ really means,what is the human and environmental cost to this progress.

LEMIR TERON: How did the decimation of New York State undermine the livelihoods, the commercial livelihoods, the social livelihoods, of Haudenosaunee and Native peoples.

If we are going to really look at this piece, then let’s acknowledge that there were some awful things that happened to get that westward expansion. Things like ethnic cleansing, enslavement. The decimation of native peoples through acts of genocide. You wouldn’t have an Erie Canal unless you had that, so in addition to having a god of commerce or a god of agriculture, it'd probably be more suitable to also include Mars, the god of war.