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Nature's Comfort

As a child I would walk alongside the lake with my Mother. She would often recall her time living in the Caribbean as a young girl. My Mother is not a big outdoors person but the water seemed to always bring her joy. From then on water was an element of comfort and a symbol of journey. I loved to swim, however there was comfort in being on land looking outwards. I always felt oddly connected to nature. As a child my fascination with water introduced me to a sense of peace. The way the sun would dance across the water at the beginning and end of every day burned a special place into my mind. It is almost as if the sun spoke to me, confirming that beyond the water would be a world for me to explore.

Lake Ontario/ Tamia Noel (2021)

As I grew older and tried to discover myself I found calmness in the woods. It used to be a place that frightened me but I grew to appreciate its complexities. I appreciate the dappled specks of light, the earthy smell that always dances around and the life that walks within every inch. I discovered there was simplicity in complexity and complexity in simplicity. As I matured my fears became an opportunity for me to explore different forms of beauty. Now I want to see all the places in the world that offer a natural space. I wonder if I will be captivated by nature the same way in different places? I began to appreciate the things land can offer, this was further cultivated by my career choice.

Photo in Forest/ Tamia Noel (2020), Thesis Cover/ Designed and Drawn by Tamia Noel (2021)

Landscape Architecture reinforces my dedication to protect the places that showed me peace and brought me clarity. In addition to that I have learned how to delicately weave the land to provide spaces that can bring people comfort in a designed form. I am fortunate to have also worked as a gardener for my city because it showed what it was like working with nature up close everyday. My relationship with nature led me to many different experiences which recently resulted in me to writing my thesis on braiding traditional knowledge with Landscape Architecture methods. The goal was to connect my practice to the land through another perspective which could hopefully inspire change in the way we envision design. My interest in rehabilitative and restorative design furthered the familial relationship I feel with the natural world and everything within it.

Tannery Park/ Tamia Noel (2021)

In my darkest times nature has always been there like a Mother reaching out ready to reassure their child. This is a relationship that has allowed me to grow as a person and when I explored it more it built a good foundation for how I envision myself. I never want to harm anything or ruin something just to be able to create or explore. It is a principle my program has reinforced for me. Throughout my life, my nostalgic road trips and travel to the Caribbean has fuelled my desire to experience more. I learned and continue learning a lot from nature, and I am grateful I took the chance to understand it. In a way it has always been a way to connect me to my own family. Since my parents grew up in the Caribbean the closest thing they could show me to home for them was the lake in my town. As time went on I began to find my place amongst a natural world. In essence, my relationship with nature is like a continuing ballad that is sung by the world itself. I’m just excited to find the lyrics.

Im curious to hear what is a natural place you could call a second home? What is the most beautiful or coolest experience you ever had? Where is somewhere you want to go?

- Tamia N.

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Myself as a Nature Interpreter

Taking care of the environment around you is a key ethic of mine in everything I do. The quote “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” is one that I have always followed in life, and is one that I hope to bring into my future endeavours as a nature interpreter. This quote is often credited to either Sir Robert Baden-Powell or John Muir of the National Park Service. However, the actual source of the quote is unknown at this point in time. If I were to adjust this quote, I would encourage others to “take nothing but memories and knowledge, leave nothing but footprints and improvements”. I have always been taught to leave the world better than you found it, and I want to instill this idea in those I interact with.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell was the founder of Boy Scouts and the co-founder of Girl Scouts alongside his sister Agnes. Prior to this, he was a military man who fought in Africa. Upon his return, he found out that some of the handbooks he had designed for soldiers were being used to teach young men and boys about the wilderness, which became the roots of Scouting as it is known today.

John Muir was fascinated by the interconnectedness of nature. He had a passion for educating and inspiring others to care for nature as much as he did. As noted in the textbook, Muir was well-known for his sentiment that nature has intrinsic value, beyond the value it holds for humankind; this is a sentiment that I myself also share.

Personally, I feel that my views and values around sharing nature with others align with some of the perspectives of these individuals, which is part of why I love this quote so much. However, I want to make it clear that I do not view either of these individuals as role models – I could never look up to someone who has expressed homophobic or racist views towards others. In my opinion, regardless of the time period and of what was deemed ‘acceptable’ at the time, everyone should feel welcome to enjoy and explore nature – it should not be gatekept from those with unique identities. One cannot claim to care for nature and yet disrespect Indigenous people, who are the original caretakers of this land. If you truly care about preserving nature, then everyone’s attempts to do so should be welcomed and valued. Nature is not property – it belongs to everyone equally.

As an interpreter, I have the responsibility of teaching others that every action has a consequence, whether it be good or bad. This could be in reference to their own actions, to the actions of humans as a whole, or to the actions of nature itself. Predators pursuing prey, increases in global warming, pollution – everything impacts the balance of nature in some way. Some things can be rebalanced, like the population dynamics between predators and prey; others, like water pollution, are much harder to counteract and rebalance. This does not mean that I will discourage people from interacting with nature; I will simply help them to understand the impacts so they can make informed decisions about what they do.

My main belief when it comes to nature interpretation is that no one knows everything, but everyone knows something. As discussed throughout the textbook and this course, everyone comes from a unique background and has their own experiences; therefore, there is always room to learn from new perspectives. Learning from others makes me a better interpreter, and allows my audience to gain insights they did not previously have.

As a young female in STEM, I feel that my best approach to interpretation would involve treating others as equals. While I may posses knowledge that they do not, there is no other power dynamic that puts me above them. I aim to create an environment that is conducive to learning for all. My approach also involves being inclusive to all that enter my programs, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or ability. All of these aspects play a role in how my audience and I see the world, but they are not barriers. I like to think of them as different glasses a person wears. They alter your views and mindset but beauty is still seen, even if it is different than the person next to you.

In conclusion, my view on nature interpretation is that everyone is welcome and everyone has something to contribute. Learning from and protecting the environment are everyone’s responsibilities.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53006178

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Stephenson-Smyth-Baden-Powell-1st-Baron-Baden-Powell

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sierra-club-muir-racism-board-vote_n_619548aae4b0f398aeff3677

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about-us/about-john-muir

https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2020/01/17/the-iconic-tourist-destination-that-youre-not-allowed-to-take-a-picture-of/

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Hello!

I really enjoyed reading your post and appreciate you sharing your perspective.

I especially enjoyed your point about nature not being property. I totally agree that everyone has the right to nature. I also think it id funny that people try to claim something which is so obviously out of our grasp. Nature constantly displays its power and shows us that it is beyond our grasp, yet humanity tries to place a right to land for specific people. Its quite strange the more I think about it. I also think this goes well with your point that you feel responsible to teach that every action has consequences. I think a lot of people feel above nature however every action we take against nature will impact us. I think the way you think about the role of an interpreter is very important because I feel it is something we really do forget. There are a lot of positives to showing people nature but just the same we have to be aware of the cautionary actions we should take. Just the same people should be allowed to experience and build their own relationship with nature, as well as understand rules for respecting nature before this interaction can begin. The fact that nature and humans are tied together means that we should learn this respect early on. But what a lovely ideal world that would be. Still… it doesn’t mean we should have respect.

I really enjoyed reading your post and thank you for sharing such deep insight.

-Tamia N.

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Last Post for This course

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual (Hookaas, 2021)?

This week I thought a lot about these questions and struggled to clarify my answers. I think I should start with how I see my interactions with the world: in order for me to feel like I am doing the right thing, it must benefit everyone or everything it affects: I would not feel okay if I benefited but everyone else received only negatives. Utilitarianism is the term Byron Williston uses to describe this ethic in his book Environmental Ethics For Canadians.  In order  for me to know whether one may not benefit from my actions or whether it will be sustainable, I ask the simple question – simple in theory – what would happen if everyone did this action? Would there be negative consequences or positive effects? The term Williston uses for this ethic is Universalizability (Williston, 2016).  These terms and the ideas they describe are very important to me, and for the conservation of the environment as well: because it should be seen as an obligation people have to always have a positive effect. These ethics are valuable for a wide range of issues from littering to pipelines for oil. Let me give you an example that’s a bit more meaningful to your everyday life: if you think about the ethical ideas regarding the environment, that means if one person left a Tim Horton’s cup on a bench during a hike, it wouldn’t be too destructive. My obligation as being conscientious and being informed by consequentialism and universalizability says I need to educate hikers that if everyone did that then forest trails would look like unsafe garbage dumps, not beautiful, protected land. In unit 10 of our course and as this course comes to an end, I formed the answers to the questions posed at the beginning of my blog: my ethics are that working as a society and doing what is best for all involved means the audience, visitors, or community can trust me to inform them of the world and to learn from them just as much as I teach.

My beliefs are that change and education do not come from being told lifeless jumbled facts but rather a spark of interest that a knowledgeable person gives fuel to. And that it takes bravery to share as an interpreter, but it takes even more to ask an interpreter for help in learning something new. My responsibilities are to be a safe and open person so the audience can feel comfortable to be themselves and learn: to encourage brave discovery in my audience and to help them understand the world and their place in it. I will take these responsibilities and these ethics and guide my audiences to find answers themselves, so it is them driving and developing their spark. Interpreters have a responsibility to not be conventional teachers, but explorers–and to let the audience have their time to process the information. Freeman Tilden is quoted as saying “the true interpreter will not rest at any dictionary definition” (Beck et al. 2018, p 5).  To give people the tools to work as a group and think as having the responsibilities of a group will let them develop a new awareness outside of individual mentalities that previously have been fostered. My belief is if people understand the full effect of their choices, they will become more environmentally aware. That is what motivates me; that is what gives me hope.  

There are many approaches that I can use to achieve meaning for others, but I think the main technique is the art of the engagement in storytelling and talking to a crowd. Storytelling creates vivid images in the minds of the listener, and helps them grow in mind and spirit (Beck et al. 2018). I have always loved to listen to stories, but when I go to tell them I get bogged down in the details and the enthusiasm is often lost. I have tried to tell people about the environment, but I used fact, not emotion. Now through this course I realized how to use both.  Storytelling can be through podcasts, video, or in-person, but it must use authentic voice and emotions. The approaches that are useful for me as an individual are roving, videos, and even podcasts. I find that when people read something, the immediacy of the topic is lost, if they even read it all the way through. The passion in others and myself feed off of each other and bring life, hope, and change in the hearts of the listeners that can only be conveyed through voice–and I don’t know about you but I am not going to stand on stage and sing a presentation. I would love to know what approaches you plan to use in your future?

Let me just join the rest of the class and say this has been an amazing course and I have loved every minute of it. I have gained so much, from tools to understanding, for my future development. This is my last course of an Environmental Citizenship Certificate program and now I am going to have the knowledge I need to find a career in environment education. Thank you Professor Hookaas. Although I am done my program, I am nowhere near done learning.  I am a lifelong learner and will always say yes to the opportunity to develop new ways of seeing the world, whether it is from academics or professionals or opinionated people I pass on the trails–I love getting to hear about people’s lives. Even if people go to an interpretative talk, they may know quite a lot about the subject or a similar subject. Talking with them instead of at them can create an exchange of knowledge that will help you both in the future. On that note I would love to read what your thoughts are?    

                                                References

Beck, L. Cable, T. Knudson, D. (2018) P 5. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability. [Unit 10 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Williston, B. (2016). Environmental Ethics For Canadians. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-901449-1.

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Hello!

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I never really thought about it until I read your post but it does take bravery to share as an interpreter. It takes bravery to share what you see and how you see it. Just the same it takes a strong conscious to know how to cater to your audience as well as assist them. I like your point about giving people tools to help them develop awareness. Throughout the experience of this course we get to experience a range of perceptions and approaches toward nature. I think it is correct to say that we become aware of more outside of our comfort. To your point we can become more aware of things beyond ourselves such as the environment.

To answer your question, I plan to use methods of story telling expressed through art and supported by science. In my field of work it is important to make people feel through design. In other words I show people how to experience nature. Sometimes its explicitly written what you should be feeling or the things that are around you. Other times your mind takes over and your unique perspective guides you. I think there is a lot of power in allowing people to use their perspective to experience something beyond themselves. Which is why it is important to understand the different ways to interpret nature.

-Tamia N.

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Week: 10 - The Era of an Interpreter

Prompt: Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

Hey everyone, its that time of the week and also the last time.

We end off this era with more of a personal reflection. As I bring people towards nature I always try to nudge them towards new experiences, most noticeably I do that through story telling. You never know the kind of experiences that people have towards nature. Some may fear its power while others may be truly captivated by its beauty. Regardless it is my responsibility to illustrate nature utilizing a range of different means. As a story teller, I may portray this through facts, history or just simple connection through a common experience.

I come from the belief and perspective that nature is an awesome force that has a lot of beauty to offer. My personal journey has showed me the multiple faces of nature and I want to be as upfront about it with my fellow bloggers. Truth and honesty are values I hold dear which is why I try to provide facts as well as transparency. I also have the responsibility to recognize my own privileges when addressing my audience. My experience will not be everyone else’s and the places I have learned some of my lessons many may not have access to. As I approach the end of my interpretation lessons I have come to learn the many different ways that nature can be approached and how many different aspects people are able to find within nature. I think the most obvious yet illusive method was interpretation through music. But through that I really realized there were many things I may overlook because of my set perspective.

The best approach for me as an individual is for me to interpret nature is through art, story and science. As I have been writing I realized how truly synonymous those parts are. Art is within science and there is a science within art. The power of nature is explained through science and the experience is art. I think experiences is something a lot things people can connect to. Personally, I like this approach to be able to connect to two different types of people. There are people who understand only facts and others that understand only images and visuals. I just so happen to be one of the people who understands both. Which is why I try my best to communicate through those means.

So what does my future look like?

As I move forward into my career as a Landscape Architect, my job is to remember all these perspectives that people have when approaching nature. As it is my job to introduce people to nature, I will keep in mind the musical, historical, privileges, artistic, scientific, and visual aspects that draw people towards nature as I have learned in my time in this course. The blogging experience has really showed me how I like to set the tone for all projects and that is by conveying a story or a feeling of an experience.

Now one last question for you. What does your future story look like as an interpreter?

Thank you and signing off,

Tamia N.

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Nature is Amazing

The most amazing thing about nature, is exactly what we do not know. And how nature, no matter what we do always seems to surprise us.  

*Fair warning, this post is gonna be all over the place.

We think we know everything about the world beyond our streets, but we are still discovering new species every day! We haven’t even explored all the world has to offer yet! We still have no idea what’s going on along the ocean floor, not to mention what lurks down there.

I get this feeling even in preservation park, an area of greenery surrounded by an urban landscape. Even though I feel I have done my share of exploring in the park, spending endless hours off the well-worn path, there are places where I still feel “lost”. That idea of wow, I have never been in this area before is so refreshing to me. It lets me know end in a space as small as preservation park there are still unknowns. So, if I scale that up to the size of entire forests, there are hundreds of these areas which remain unexplored. I guess that’s for the best, leaving these little sanctuaries free from people. But the sad reality is, people don’t have to be physically in an area to affect its inhabitants.

I am always going to turn back to the vastness of the oceans to depict that there’s so much we do not know about our planet. It is the one place on Earth that we still have infinite questions about. I think that is obvious when we look at all the mythology around the open ocean and what might lurk underneath the waves. As humans I think it is in our nature to craze organizing things into groups that we understand. So, we will go to great lengths to being order to our otherwise “chaotic” world. I think that’s why we have put so much effort into areas such as taxonomy, so we can understand how and why things are the way they are. However, nature doesn’t think like this, it reacts, adapts, and thrives in whatever way possible. We are constantly trying to keep up with nature in this way. But oceans add a new dimension of being an almost “alien” ecosystem. Where it is hard to effectively group things because of how vast and unacceptable majority of it is.

I like that idea. The idea of the unknown. It kinda puts us humans back into our place. We have made massive leaps in technology, created urban jungles, etc. However, what if that all goes away? And we are forced to face nature head on, without the comforts of society. We don’t’ stand a chance. That’s also what is awesome. No matter how advanced we become as a society, nature will still humble us. So, no matter how advanced our human civilization becomes, we will always need a way to connect to nature. Connect to nature in a way that is pure and real.

Thank you for taking the time to read my mess of a post!

Kiran 

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Hi Kiran,

I totally agree that the things that we don’t know provide so much potential to leave us in awe. The ocean is so unexplored, which always leaves me thinking about the potential to find some of the monsters that folklore and mythology left for us. Who knows, maybe there are a family of krakens peacefully resting. After all we do have giant squids that are 3 stories tall. Humans may also not be ready for such wonders to be revealed. I don’t think we can always cope with the things the world has to offer. Nature is already so overwhelming already that I would say maybe it is safer to let discoveries occur as naturally as possible. To connect it to your point, nature’s power means that humans have to understand that we need a relationship with nature. We are not above nature and that means that we need to understand more so we are not humbled significantly by the things that are yet to come.

-Tamia N.

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Week 9: The Phenomena of Uniqueness

Hello everyone! Welcome back to that time of the week so lets talk get into it!

As spring approaches and we watch the snow melt I think about the warm weather and excitement soon to come. I also think about nature being the epitome of perfect since everything appears perfectly replicated only through nature. The truth it the perfection we think we are seeing is consistent imperfections or rather uniqueness. Even though we cannot see it, nature is unique with every creation, no one thing is alike. Snowflakes are notoriously different with each flake, no one pattern is the same. In addition to providing unique qualities, nature also provides unique experiences. Some of these experiences boggle my mind a little more than others.

This time I want to talk about things you don’t always see. Nature presents us with many phenomenons but some sound as though they are written from a script. So let me tell you a story. Long ago, the world was made from four primary elements; Earth, Water, Fire and Air. It’s a tale as old as time. However, very rarely are the secondary elements mentioned. This is a tale of Fire and Earth and how their relationship gave birth to a new element. In the beginning, Fire and Earth had fallen in love. Their extraordinary love had forged mountains and churned soil. Both elements were blissfully infatuated with one another, taking any chance they have to support one another. But just like all those with a great love, great passion and anger can boil over. Soon the mountains that were a display of their love would become a show of their fury. Sometimes the tops of the mountains would rip off and display a clash of liquid fire and earth. The other elements watched calmly, trying not to join the calamity. But little did the other elements know that lightning would be born. This confused Air as it was sure not to interfere. Regardless, the passion of the two elements had created that which Air could not understand. A passion that was enough to birth Lightning in the most extraordinary way. From then on every time the lovers fought it would be announced by the flash of lightning.

Now not much is known about the phenomenon of Volcanic Lightning. For obvious reasons, it is very hard to study. However, there are some theories as to why this phenomenon occurs. One theory is when lightning occurs on the ground due to the rubbing of the ash particles which builds up enough static electricity to produce lightning (Discovery, 2019). A theory to explain lightning occurring in the sky is the formation of ice in the high layers due to the plume of ash and water (Discovery, 2019). This is just one of the many phenomena that the world has to offer. It is also one of the many that we do not fully understand. Once again nature offers us something unique and reaffirms why it is only the who can replicate and create such wonders.

What are some other phenomena or unique qualities in nature that you think are interesting or simply just blow your mind?

-Tamia N.

Volcanic lightning happens at the beginning of a volcanic eruption. Discovery. (2019, August 1). https://www.discovery.com/science/volcanic-lightning-happens-at-the-beginning-of-a-volcanic-erupti

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Week 07: The Nature of a Human Symphony

Hey everyone, welcome back from a week break! As always its that time of the week so lets get into it!

Today’s guiding questions are, “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?”

Music is an art that many people favour whether it be because it makes you feel something or it is simply for relaxation, music has an oddly strong power. Biologically, we respond to different types of music differently and it triggers different emotions within us. Different types of music appeals to different people or different parts of a person. A song that brings me into nature, almost immediately, is Wonders by Klingande and Broken Back. I like when songs convey a story and this song immediately brings me to a forest edge where one can run freely and explore. The lyrics start off by asking “should we ride to the north until the south, to the western wonders burning all desires”. For me this paired with a deep drumming and whistling background makes me thing of a forest adventure with each drum beat being a step and heartbeat. Looking at it the whistling may be inspired by bird sounds to add to that sense of submersion. It also mentions some elements of love which can also be interpreted as one talking about their relationship with nature or it still works the same as if talking about a relationship with a person. I like to think of a girl running through the forest looking up at the dappling light through the trees and her friends closely behind her. The wonders she is experiencing is the love of a solid relationship with nature - a comfort and adventure that is beyond words. Embarrassingly enough, on road trips when this songs play I feel completely in my element.

The songs of nature can also be assessed and can create an unreal atmosphere. What I mean by that is that all sounds of nature can build a symphony. In the simplest example a series of bird tweets can create music. More complex, each tweet, tree rustle, and every footstep can be a sample in a song. Gray et al. (2001) mentions signing of humpbacks being similar to music that humans produce. Despite their range of octaves they regularly chose to use intervals and in similar or the same scales as human scales (Gray et al., 2001). Each artistic choice whales makes brings it closer to the way human compose music. I believe in the times when humans were more connected to the land, they learned from and adapted habits from nature. Therefore, it shouldn’t be much of a shock that there are similarities, yet it is still present. I think the shock for me comes from an amazement of animal intelligence and complexity. Not that I think that they are unintelligent however, the world just amazes me sometimes. Building off of that idea, I wonder if the reason music is so different from culture to culture could be a result of the varying types of animals near by. For a different yet similar reason Neanderthals were proven to be fond of music in a display of flute made from animal bones (Gray et al., 2001). This made me think that music could also be limited depending on what animals and plant materials that were available to use to make instruments. Overall, music can bring one closer to nature by creating a feeling or using natural sounds, or nature itself can be the music.

- Tamia N.

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.

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 Hi Tamia,

I loved reading about the song that submerges you back into a natural environment and the vivid picture you have drawn of what that scenario looks like for you. I agree with you in that music has the ability to draw on certain emotions, deepening the connection we feel. I like how you mentioned the reading by Grey et al. (2001), and how the sounds of animals have been found to be closely related to the structure of music that we often listen to. This reading highlighted the ways in which different animals such as birds, insects, and whales produce sounds which have similar rhythms, harmonies, and characteristics of music that humans produce (Grey et al., 2001). You mentioned that these findings make you wonder whether or not varying music styles are a result of variation in species in different geographical locations. This is a great thought, and makes me wonder about how far the connection between music and nature draws back to. I am sure there have been many aspects of music that were inspired by nature, and vice versa. 

I really enjoyed reading your insightful post and my question for you is do you think that the connection between nature and music is often overlooked?

References:

Gray, P.M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501).

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Hey!

I definitely think because the connection is so intertwined it gets overlooked due to this almost synonymous relationship. It is one that is really shocking once you investigate it! You begin to realize there is a connection or some variation of that connection almost everywhere.

-Tamia N.

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Nature Interpretation through Music - Blog 7

Where is music in nature to me…

The diversity of birds communicating across different ecosystems, the background noise of leaves and bushes brushing and swaying in the wind, the sound of water and streams bashing upon rocks and barriers, species interacting with one another.

When you truly think about it, whether you are submerged within any terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem or landscape, any amount of noise you may hear can affiliate with the production of its own uniqueness of instrumental notes forming music to your ears.

Gray et al. (2001) raised a question stating “Is music-making in humans defined by our genes?”. This is quite interesting to read such that I believe certain humans as much as animals may obtain this. But also visualizing at the same time, each and every single person on Earth grasps their own uniqueness to music-making and having a voice through various areas of art.

I think it can be as simple as that.

Where is nature in music to me…

I believe that nature continues to inspire composers and artists, maybe because of its infinite variety; inspiration appears to be sparked invisibly, and all one has to do is open his or her eyes and ears and enjoy the beauty around them before they begin pouring out their emotions. Nature has an enormous way of impacting individuals in a positive way, this is a topic I try to stress in every blog post such that nature offers more than what we can imagine or personally know.

A song that reminds me of nature is…

West coast by OneRepublic

This song allows me to imagine traveling somewhere warm. It talks about where you may be in a point of time surrounded by gray skies, that you can break out of that and go somewhere that makes you happy. It allows me to envision going to a place of positivity, where it's warmer, brighter, no rain or clouds in the sky, being kissed by the sun. My safe space in nature is the beach which I have talked about in other posts, such that this song allows me to feel as if I am there.

Give it a listen if you’d like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBPE2fZsVYU

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

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Hi Dalia,

I enjoyed reading your post especially the part about music making being unique to each individual. Depending on one’s relation to nature they can interpret and therefore inspire different compositions. To which I totally agree with you that nature has enormous ways of impacting individuals. I also think that the positive aspect of it makes it oddly comforting but I think nature can also inspire some dark feelings as well. If someone is afraid of getting lost in a forest the experience may not be so relaxing and they therefore might compose a sinister musical piece. A reflection of that rather strained and fear-based relationship. However, I still marvel at the positive impacts of nature.

Also I will definitely check out the song, I'm surprised I haven’t heard it yet since I had a huge OneRepublic phase. Thanks for the recommendation and great job!

-Tamia N.

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Week 07: The Nature of a Human Symphony

Hey everyone, welcome back from a week break! As always its that time of the week so lets get into it!

Today’s guiding questions are, “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?”

Music is an art that many people favour whether it be because it makes you feel something or it is simply for relaxation, music has an oddly strong power. Biologically, we respond to different types of music differently and it triggers different emotions within us. Different types of music appeals to different people or different parts of a person. A song that brings me into nature, almost immediately, is Wonders by Klingande and Broken Back. I like when songs convey a story and this song immediately brings me to a forest edge where one can run freely and explore. The lyrics start off by asking “should we ride to the north until the south, to the western wonders burning all desires”. For me this paired with a deep drumming and whistling background makes me thing of a forest adventure with each drum beat being a step and heartbeat. Looking at it the whistling may be inspired by bird sounds to add to that sense of submersion. It also mentions some elements of love which can also be interpreted as one talking about their relationship with nature or it still works the same as if talking about a relationship with a person. I like to think of a girl running through the forest looking up at the dappling light through the trees and her friends closely behind her. The wonders she is experiencing is the love of a solid relationship with nature - a comfort and adventure that is beyond words. Embarrassingly enough, on road trips when this songs play I feel completely in my element.

The songs of nature can also be assessed and can create an unreal atmosphere. What I mean by that is that all sounds of nature can build a symphony. In the simplest example a series of bird tweets can create music. More complex, each tweet, tree rustle, and every footstep can be a sample in a song. Gray et al. (2001) mentions signing of humpbacks being similar to music that humans produce. Despite their range of octaves they regularly chose to use intervals and in similar or the same scales as human scales (Gray et al., 2001). Each artistic choice whales makes brings it closer to the way human compose music. I believe in the times when humans were more connected to the land, they learned from and adapted habits from nature. Therefore, it shouldn’t be much of a shock that there are similarities, yet it is still present. I think the shock for me comes from an amazement of animal intelligence and complexity. Not that I think that they are unintelligent however, the world just amazes me sometimes. Building off of that idea, I wonder if the reason music is so different from culture to culture could be a result of the varying types of animals near by. For a different yet similar reason Neanderthals were proven to be fond of music in a display of flute made from animal bones (Gray et al., 2001). This made me think that music could also be limited depending on what animals and plant materials that were available to use to make instruments. Overall, music can bring one closer to nature by creating a feeling or using natural sounds, or nature itself can be the music.

- Tamia N.

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.

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#6: The merit of integrity in historical interpretation

There are two forests close to my home where I like to go for a hike; the Arboretum of the Royal Botanical Gardens and Dundas Valley Conservation Area. Both have interpretative programming consisting amongst others of map brochures and trail signage, which provide information to visitors on its natural and cultural history. On a recent hike at the Arboretum I walked along their Indigenous Trail, which explores the native plants used by the Anishinaabe peoples and their significance for Indigenous medicine, culture and history (Royal Botanical Gardens, n.d.). By listening to a “plant teaching” from an audio device at one of the Cootes Paradise overlooks (see picture below of the lake from the water), I learned from an Elder how cattail starch flour was used to reduce bowel inflammation such as Crohn's disease (which one of my friends suffers from). It was a very soothing experience to learn about history while taking in the beautiful environment.

Only when considering this week’s assignment on the merit of maintaining historical integrity, I realised that the programming at Dundas Valley hardly includes any reference to this important part of the land’s history. Not only is there no dedicated Indigenous trail or trail signage, even the trail map brochure only includes a tiny line; “It is also thought that nomadic aboriginals used this route as part of their network of trails.” (Hamilton Conservation Authority, 2020). As you can see in the picture below, the brochure does include more information on settlers and post-slavery history, Hermitage ruins as well as the natural heritage. Similarly, the Wikipedia page on the conservation area describes the history of a sulphur springs hotel and the railway track, without any mention of the local Indigenous history (Wikipedia, 2021). Absolutely shocking!

As the quote in Chapter 7 of the coursebook (Beck et al., 2018) describes, if any parts of a place are scattered throughout time, it is imperative that the entirety of its history is kept alive in the memories of the audience, especially if it concerns such a troubled past as how Indigenous have been treated in colonial Canada. By brushing over in a single sentence how the area has been used by Indigenous peoples (even I know as an immigrant that the word aboriginal is no longer preferred), these survivors are withheld the opportunity to share their stories and therefore risk being forgotten (Hooykaas, 2022). It implies that the Indigenous history was not important in how Dundas Valley was used by humans whereas it was likely that these peoples created the trails before the settlers arrived. The lack of attention to this part of the cultural heritage indicates a privileged approach by the Hamilton Conservation Authority, which may then also be reflected in the interpretive programming at their other sites. These organizations should play a prominent role in educating the public about the history of the land it aims to protect for future generations of ALL Canadians.

Interpretive writing is goal-directed and should be intended to connect people with the past so that history can enrich and caution visitors (Beck et al., 2018). By involving members of the Indigenous community to develop culture-appropriate interpretive programming at Dundas Valley, whether it’s an Indigenous trail or a more inclusive brochure/website, an opportunity for reconciliation is created by which historical interpretation is done with integrity.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Hamilton Conservation Authority. (2020). Dundas Valley Trail Map. https://conservationhamilton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Dundas-Valley-Brochure-2020-for-web.pdf

Hooykaas, A. (2022). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation course manual. University of Guelph.

Royal Botanical Gardens. (n.d.). Indigenous trail. https://www.rbg.ca/gardens-trails/by-attraction/trails/indigenous-trail/

Wikipedia. (2021, January 16). Dundas Valley Conservation Area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundas_Valley_Conservation_Area

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Hi Fleur,

I enjoyed reading your post this week. As a designer I appreciate the Indigenous trail because it is an immersive way to teach people about Indigenous culture. Since Indigenous culture is so connected to nature, it provides an effective perspective of nature being a window into experiencing history. It's amazing to learn while in the environment. I was both shocked and yet also not completely taken back by the small line of text in the Dundas Valley programming. In design, this has become more of a recent issue that designers are tackling but sometimes people mention it to just keep up with the trend of it all. I think Indigenous teachings should be present on the site and right in your face. The land we walk on has so many stories to share and I feel as though it is our responsibility to learn since we live here. I’m glad to see you discussing this for this weeks post! As a designer I'm curious, what do you think would help you immerse yourself in learning history while engaging with the environment?

- Tamia N

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The True Merit of History and Nature as a Door Way

Week 06: Merit in History

Hey everyone, its that time of the week! Welcome back to my blog! Lets get into it…

History contains lessons and stories. You can never replicate the past, although many people say, for unfortunate events, they are able repeat themselves. There is merit in ancient things just not the type of value that many would tend to hope for. The past contains a major influence on the future, it is what shapes the future.

People explore history in many different ways. In the textbook a museum experience is broken into different categories; explorers, facilitators, professional/hobbyists, experience seekers, rechargers, respectful pilgrims, and affinity seekers (Beck et al., 2018). This can be applicable outside a museum context. A person may be more curious, or focus on enhancing the experience for others, or connect their passion, or utilize the knowledge as a space, or seek restoration, or to pay respect, or to seek resonance (Beck et al., 2018). One can seek history or look to the past in these many different ways and reasons. Personally, I have connected to history to explore, recharge and pay respects. I connect nature to history as well, especially to connect to my ancestry. There is a lot of history in who I am, so I hope to understand and be restored by stories of resilience. Nature provides the perfect setting for that connection. Nature in itself is a historical form, a cultivation of survival methods to provide the best outcome of what we see today. If trees could talk, oh the stories they would be able to tell. This world has seen more than our humanity could ever comprehend and if we are lucky sometimes we are able to find those tales, through artifacts we find.

St Vincent and the Grenadines/ Google Images/ Retrieved 2022

Edward Hyams states, “To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it”. This quote is impactful because it unpacks the human conscious as we often believe that our life time is the one of most relevance and as a result we neglect the others. When in fact many other stories make up who we are, the world we live in and the way society responds to certain dilemmas. In addition to that the past can inform our future so we do not succumb to making mistakes. I could list many human made disasters that have shaped our world, I can certainly name ones that shaped mine. One of them brought my family to the Caribbean, and as a result I exist today as a blend of many once sworn enemies. My father always tells me and my sister to know our history and our roots. He wanted to teach us not walk blindly through this world as well as to respect the struggles of those before us. More than any thing he wanted us to feel our resilience and our power in being who we are, not just brush past it during black history month. Even then the curriculum doesn’t even scratch the surface of who I am, they kind of skip over the part about the Caribbean being one of the main stopping points before America but I digress. You may be wondering why I am not putting a name to the event, and my answer to that is because you have the association what the event I am discussing (or so I hope) and I don’t want pitty or sombreness as you read about the past. I find it overwhelming for me to be sad about it as well but my ancestors didn’t prevail for me not to talk about them a bit. I just want you to understand and feel that history has an impact. Thats the kind of interpreter and teacher I am, I like to make people feel what they are learning. Hence why nature is my place of refuge, especially when I visit the past. The point is that it is foolish to think of the past as non-influential, my existence is quite literally proof of that. I encourage you to remember history and allow those past lessons to inform your future as well as respect others future.

Family Flags/ Google Images/ Retrieved 2022

According to Beck et Al. (2018), visitors approach an exhibit in different ways; ignoring it all together, glancing at it briefly, looking at the graphics and artifacts, reading the messages, starting in the bringing or the middle or near the end and grasping hold of an interactive device. If life were an exhibit showing the past present and future I would definitely approach the exhibit by looking at the graphics and artifacts. The reason for that is because it makes me feel and forces me to look at all perspectives. Understanding that many people may approach history differently, what kind of person do you think you are? And what do you seek when you approach history?

- Tamia N.

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

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Blog 5: a relationship with nature

Not being given a topic to write about is definitely something I’m not used to. For as long as I can remember in school, writing was more for the teacher reading it than it was for myself. I normally write what the other person expects to see, which doesn’t always include my own thoughts or opinions. This week’s subject on nature interpretation through science is a very vast topic. With most of us here working towards a bachelor of science, this has been our primary way of interpreting and learning about nature.

There’s a lot we can learn from textbooks and lectures, but nothing beats actually experiencing nature first hand, and in my mind is crucial to truly understanding it. The video by Kitty and Jenny in the arboretum is a great example of this. Some of the things they talked about like the organ pipe mud dauber and the goldenrod galls were new information to me, but learning that through an interpretive outdoor walk was much more interesting than reading it in a research paper or textbook.

In the book I am reading, “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, she described the time she gave her third year university ecology class a survey asking them to ‘rate their understanding of the negative interactions between humans and the environment.” Almost everyone in the two-hundred-person class agreed that humans and the environment are a bad mix. Later on, she asked about positive interactions between humans and the environment, with the average answer being there are none. What the students fixate on is the culture they’ve grown up in where the land and water are constantly being harmed by human actions. Although, this is not true for all cultures as Robin explains throughout the book.

After reading this part I could admit that I partially thought the same way as them. Throughout university we often learn about the wrong doings we have made to the environment and all of its cascading negative effects. In the geography and environmental science courses I’ve taken I’ve learned more about global warming, pollution and the negative impacts on natural systems than I have about learning to connect with the land and what it really needs. Conservation is geared towards implementing a scientific proposition to reduce our effects on the environment, rather than changing our relationship with it.

“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.” -Robin Wall Kimmerer

“What we contemplate here is more than ecological restoration; it is the restoration of relationship between plants and people. Scientists have made a dent in understanding how to put ecosystems back together, but our experiments focus on soil pH and hydrology—matter, to the exclusion of spirit. We are dreaming of a time when the land might give thanks for the people.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer

There are a million quotes I could take from this book since it has such a deep and powerful message. Overall I think it highlights how society has become disconnected from the environment that we rarely take the time to recognize that everything comes from another life. We as humans have the responsibility to look after and respect our environment. Creating a relationship with nature and appreciating it is the first step in showing our gratitude for all it does for us.

The first spring blooms of 2021 

Reilly :) 

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Hi Reilly, 

I enjoyed reading your post and your assessment of Braiding Sweetgrass. 

I read braiding sweetgrass for information during my thesis. I love the book and the story telling aspect. It really puts emphasis on experiential learning which is an important form of learning. It is interesting that people have such a negative idea of humans and the environment when we are apart of that system. It's not necessarily that we don’t mix, rather that we have an undeniable connection to nature which humans exercise their power. The power over nature has caused many negative events but just the same we can undo it within that same relationship. Many people have had positive give and take relationships with nature. Kimmerer even explains that in her assessment of what land means in the beginning of the book. She states that it can’t be owned and illustrates how humans share an equal part in a relationship with nature. Western perspectives have changed that but many Indigenous people follow through with the mentioned process - take only what you need. I totally agree that this book is a perfect message for our relationship with nature and that appreciation and gratitude are the pillars of a great relationship. I think society really needs to take a step back and assess this relationship and understand the respect we should have for nature. 

- Tamia N.

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It is Nature my Dear Student

Week 05: The Science of Philosophy in Nature

Hey everyone, its that time of the week again! Welcome back to my blog!

This week I wanted to take the chance to talk about a more philosophical connection of nature and its complexities. I see nature as art and science. It explains how I chose Landscape Architecture since it is a blend of the two crafts. I have always been captivated by the beauty of nature and how large it seemed. I remember being a small kid in awe of the world around me and the strong desire to adventure it. As I grew older I fell in love with science because it could explain, why I saw what I saw and how everything worked. I became fascinated by the intricacies of the world and how it can appear so simple when it held so many secrets beneath the surface. The best example I can think of is looking at a flower. A flower will look so delicate and simple however what is happening beneath that facade is intricate. Each cell respires and has its own functions to allow the flower to flourish and display its beauty. Even the bright colours humans enjoy have a function necessary for survival. The complexity of its function allows for a simplistic beauty. In essence there is simplicity in complexity as well as there is complexity in simplicity.

Gladioulus Picture/ Tamia Noel/ 2021

I have always seen the world with some sort of mystical element. I think I was always fascinated with stories and how simple things seemed. Everything was described with a force or an all knowing being or even just fate. When it came to nature, it seemed as all those stories could be true. In such a large place, it was impossible to explain every single thing and there are still things that can’t be explained. I just take them at face value. When you think about it, western science is fairly new compared to other knowledge systems. Interestingly the simplistic stories can actually explain something that western science may find complex. It is important to note at this point that what may be complex to one group can be simple to another just based off of experience. Anyways, I recall a story I heard about a Sand Cherry I heard from a Lakota scientist. She told a story about how the Lakota people would approach a Sand Cherry from down wind so it couldn’t smell you coming and the berries would be sweet. As she worked as a horticulturist she asked a biochemist to help her investigate this story. They found out that Sand Cherry is able to detect pheromones emitted by animals from upwind and they adjust their berries to turn sour so animals will be deterred from consuming them. The story held the truth all along and was supported further by western science. In a way the science of how this plant functions is the art of it all. It’s a symphony of events that produce different tunes.

A Story through Drawing/ Sketch / Tamia Noel/ 2019

The philosophy of how we interpret nature has many different forms depending on the kind of person you are. I believe in the intrinsic value of nature and the inherent connection within nature therefore my application of simplicity and complexity follows these ideals. I feel that those ideals work best with these principles since it allows you assess all aspects of a human relationship with nature. For me, the world is painted in an array of colours, each stroke carrying a detail more intricate than it may seem. This image has been the base for my relationship and understanding of nature and hopefully has inspired your perspective as well. I’m curious to hear about your own philosophies and perceptions of nature. Do you have your own principles? Or personal rules? Do you consider science when you view nature?

- Tamia N.

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This week we get to discuss art in nature interpretation, and I’ve been really excited to talk about this topic! I remember when I was a wee little tyke, I was convinced that every school subject fit into the category of art. Math was an art in the way that you had to use your imagination and creativity to use numbers to solve any problems. Science was an art in the sense that there was an order to everything, but everything worked harmoniously and in complex and mysterious ways that you can’t help but appreciate it the same way you’d appreciate an artistic masterpiece.

Yes, I realize this was quite the nerdy outlook to think of mathematics, of all things, as an art form; however, I’ve carried this mindset from then on and it has always made learning these “dry” subjects much more meaningful. This is the power that art has and understanding this and incorporating it into nature interpreting can make the experience so much more special.

Interpreting on its own is an artform, and the best examples of it are expressions of what is held in the head and heart of the interpreter (Beck et al. 2018). When these expressions are authentic, there is an inherent connection between the audience and interpreter, because you get a glimpse of something that the interpreter is passionate about. This can make the passion contagious, and before you know it everyone is mentally and emotionally engaged.

Furthermore, mixing in traditional art forms with interpreting can make the experience that much more impactful. Art has always brought people together, whether it be a family singing and dancing to music, or an audience watching a Broadway production. It’s undeniable that art is an important aspect to all of our lives. We also see its impact in society and culture, where singers sing or writers write about current societal issues, and often act as trailblazers for societal progression.

Using traditional art forms to express eco-consciousness and raise awareness of the climate crisis can be immensely impactful. Personally, music holds a special place in my heart, and I would love to interpret nature through music. Songs have the potential to tell a story, and a story holds the potential to attract audiences of many ages and backgrounds (Beck et al. 2018). The beauty of music is that it can be used to invoke so many emotions within the listeners, which pairs remarkably well with good story telling. Just think about it… A horror movie with no soundtrack is much less frightening, and a funeral scene just probably won’t make you cry without the melancholy piano and strings playing. Music can intensify the feelings that are quintessential to interpreting, and I would love to use it to enhance the many emotions that you feel when exploring nature.

The “gift of beauty” is defined as cultivating a sense of desire and appreciation for your surroundings, resulting in positive and uplifted spirits (Beck et al. 2018). To me, the gift of beauty is that feeling of awe you experience when you experience something moving. This could be the feeling you get when you walk through the forest and get lost in its beauty, or the feeling of intense emotion a song invokes that brings you to tears. Heck, even the feeling I felt when I looked at math and though, “wow numbers work in so many amazing ways!”. This gift of beauty is what makes interpreting so effective and pairing it with an equally impactful art can be ground-breaking.

Also, I would love to hear some of your favourite examples of artists who incorporate nature interpretation into their works! Please share!

Here is this week’s photo (because photography is an art LOL), taken from my hike this week! There is a deer somewhere in there but I cannot find it for the life of me. Let me know if you spot it!

Reference: Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

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Hi Andrew,

I enjoyed hearing about your feelings towards art. I especially like that you highlighted that science is an art. I always use to love science because it explained the beauty of everything and art made you wander why you see things the way you see them. I use to simplify it by stating there is complexity in simplicity and simplicity in complexity. I also like how you introduce music into this definition of art. It is one I am close to and I truly do believe it has a magical hold on what we feel. To me it seems like a portal to a greater experience. Like how you mentioned a horror movie being more effective with music. I think you set up your point for the gift of beauty very well and I couldn’t agree more. It is a feeling of awe, a feeling that isn’t fully expressed by words. Interestingly enough you post reminded me of that feeling.

To answer your question I'm a big fan of the Romanticism, to me this are period shows the power of the world as humans or gods roam through it. I also appreciate artists like Fragonard who made an impact on the rococo era, which showed the fascination and whimsical connection to nature. I also enjoy the great debate of abstract expressionism but I do feel that some pieces evoke feeling such as Jackson Pollock’s work. The most impactful style I have witnessed is the woodland style. Artists like Norval Morrisseau show the connections of nature in the physical sense and how everything has a spirit. I feel like it encompasses how nature is truly alive.

- Tamia N.

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The Correlation of Art and Nature

Hello everyone, its that time of the week! Welcome back to my blog!

As someone who started out as an artist and studying art before pursuing design art is a powerful way to communicate to people. It is important to note that art comes in various forms, some of which may shock you. As an interpreter it is also a job to help be the medium to communicate the beauty nature provides to others. It’s communication that goes beyond diagrams; it reveals emotion and story. Art is an important medium for communication. Literally, though! Many people have used forms of art to make languages. One of the languages I am currently learning is Japanese. Apologies if I don’t get this exactly right I'm still learning. Basically, Japanese is divided into 3 writing forms hiragana, katakana and kanji. Kanji is the use of Chinese characters, following the rules of Japanese there are two pronunciations; Onyomi (the Chinese derived pronunciation) and Kunyomi (the Japanese pronunciation). Point of this being, a Japanese writing practice sheet I have shows how kanji came from kokotsubun (a hieroglyphic/drawn kind of character) that seems to resemble elements of nature which was then simplified into hiragana. The progression of drawings helped make a base for language and communication. Obviously this is over simplified but it is interesting because a lot of ways I help myself remember kanji is by making drawings from the character pertaining to what they mean. Thus writing and words can be derived from an artistic expression as well as a literal form of communicating.

This brings up a valid point that nature is the basis for art. Many artists draw inspiration from nature and displayed the parts that speak to them in a way that makes sense to them. The group of seven is infamous for Canadian landscapes, but there are eras dedicated to the fascination of life embellished by nature or natural elements such as the rococo, romanticism, realism, art nouveau, impressionism, surrealism. These time periods are often known to highlight human elements but have also showed perspectives of nature alongside the human image. Art has the ability to speak to something deeper. Nature can show insight to new perspectives. Nature has impacted my personal art. You are the limited by your own imagination and creativity therefore witnessing other creative works can expand upon what you know and how you perceive things.

"The Swing"/ Painting from Rococo Art Period/ Fragonard

Coy Fish and The Island/ Paintings/ Tamia Noel

The gift of beauty closely resembles the saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is the appreciation and embracing the feeling of beauty radiating from ones environment. Everyone takes it in differently but the feelings are still there. The gift part I can see in two ways, it a gift because it is shared with us and it is also a gift because we should be grateful to witness such beauty. I grew up in an environment where perspective of food, art, culture and nature are a blend of different peoples backgrounds. Such is the essence of the Caribbean. When I interpret and view things I think in different perspectives but the one constant is my view of nature. That is not to say that it isn’t influenced by different stories and teachings but some how, even in the darkest tales, there has been a strong display of nature’s beauty. For me, natures beauty comes from its strength while also providing interesting sites to see. It is not something that we can control which I think is why it is so beautiful on its own. Nature owns its strength and beauty and each person takes in its different features. For me I capture each feature through drawing, painting, writing, spoken word, photography and sometimes sculpture. Every form of communication is art, especially when it describes the wanders of our world. I want to try to capture nature as much as I can. Ever since I was little I loved looking at the world and trying to understand it. I found very quickly that nature is art.

What ways do you try to capture nature? What feelings does it invoke when you are creating or capturing art?

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

- Tamia N.

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Privilege's Within Nature

The idea of privilege has always been a confusing concept for me. When talking about privileges, whether you have lots or none, it is always a tense topic. Nobody wants to admit they have gotten somewhere in their lives on the merit of their parents, and not from their own ingenious (As if it is bad that your parents have cared about your well-being and tried to give you the best? Maybe it’s more of a defence mechanism for the guilt over the actions of our ancestors?). Nobody wants to admit they haven’t had any privileges growing up either though (feeling embarrassed their parents haven’t been able to give them a lot or for where they live, for example). Privilege is a big part of nature interpretation, since some people aren’t born with access to natural spaces and others are, it is a big factor of how someone views and interprets nature. My definition of privilege is, an advantage you are born with, of which you benefit from throughout your lifetime.

I have grown up hearing how lucky I am to be native. How lucky I am to have my schooling and benefits paid for. How lucky I am to have a status card, identifying me as an “Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act, chapter 27, Statutes of Canada (1985).” which it actually quotes on my card and means I pay 5% of taxes, off-reserve, instead of 13% (like it’s a privilege having to present my card and wait at checkout while I get comments from the cashier like ‘oh your card is expired, I can’t accept it’ because suddenly that makes me not native anymore?). On-reserve, we don’t have taxes which is another thing I am extremely ‘lucky’ for because who doesn’t love an economy run off white people travelling to the reserve to buy gas and cigarettes without tax. When I think about being called ‘lucky’ for all these privileges imposed on my people, I think of the genocide and oppression my people went through to be given these things and how I would do anything, including rejecting the ‘privileges’, because they in NO WAY make up for what we have lost and the pain we feel today.

However, when I ignore all the things white people have told me I’m lucky for, I actually do feel lucky to be native. I feel lucky to have had the privilege to walk into the forest whenever I want when I was growing up which gave me the opinions and ideas I have now, and I love who I am now. I am also lucky to have a people and culture, no matter how disconnected I feel from it, since my great grandparents were in residential schools and had their spirit’s broken... I feel honoured to represent my people in my everyday life and take that role seriously since I know when I step off the reserve, others will take my words and actions into consideration as they form opinions and talk to others about my people.

My parents weren’t super well off, but they had enough money to provide me with opportunities growing up and, in this world, it is very fortunate to have your schooling paid for, so I grew up with things that other kids didn’t have. Privileges that I always felt I should be grateful for having in this world, but this isn’t the world I wanted to live in. I wanted to live in a world where my people were proud and were not weighed down by generations of oppression. Where I could find indigenous children whose parents treated them well, and taught, and loved them because they would all have healthy minds, that were not tainted by grief or resentment towards the world, their broken parents, and everybody else.

Privilege is a weird topic for me. It is a hard word to define because people use it in different ways. Privileges you think other people have might not actually be a privilege for them. In fact, it could be the very Bain of their existence, and things we consider privileges for ourselves might seem foreign and incomprehensible to others. In my case, being connected to nature is one of the biggest privileges I have but I am considerate of those who feel no connection with nature and realize that fear or wariness of nature is a very real thing for some. Some people love the idea of being apart of something bigger than themselves, but others can feel intimidated/afraid by this feeling as well.

I hope all of you can step into your opposition’s shoes and try and consider their point of views as you would take account of your own. This is the first step into truly seeing nature for all that it is. Taking the time to think about how other beings could feel just like we do is important in being able to consider yourself as a part of nature. To think about yourself as if you were an Earth worm or something humans typically think as less than ourselves opens our minds and eyes to the actual condition of our world, gaining different perspectives. Perspectives that we can use to navigate nature. So, this week find a little bit of time every day (maybe during your morning coffee) just to imagine yourself as a different species. This will take some of the risk and fear out of the idea of wandering out into nature, as you will slowly start to consider yourself as part of it.

I’m a raccoon. I wake up in my home, it’s about dusk now but the sun is setting fast. I live in a simple two-story burrow I found in a tree, right next to the clearing with the human house beside it. The added room gives me lots of space for my babies. Thinking of which, I should probably get them ready to go get some food. The humans will empty their garbage out soon so looks like leftovers for breakfast. Today I should teach them how to open the garbage themselves, so they are learning how to fend for themselves when they leave the den. They need to learn how to hide from the humans as well and not to make too much noise when they are digging through it. I will make sure they are ready. Should I look for food in the forest first? No, why waste time when the garbage is right there, and I still need to go get water and look for another mate today as well. Not to mention, needing time to get me and my babies across the road safely to get to the water source. No, we will just look through the garbage and then I’ll have more time later to play and groom them before bed. Yes, that is a much better plan.

[tnenvs3000w22]

Hi Davana,

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I totally agree that it is hard to admit that one has privilege. Honestly, I feel weird about it sometimes, especially being black and coming from an immigrant family. It seems foreign to me to admit. I think that is why it is equally important to be self-aware. Personally I think it helps me be even prouder of the things my family has accomplished as well as realize the things I am truly lucky to have. Being self-aware lets me be respectively open to other perspectives. Even some that aren’t human.

Interestingly enough your point about imaging yourself as another species is actually what really helped me learn to appreciate and not fear nature as a child. Even to this day I connect to certain animals which reminds me of my role as a steward to land, to care for things beyond humans. It is important to remember we are all apart of a shared world and its a point I am glad you brought up! Crazy enough I keep seeing certain animals which over the years made me look into my ancestry and connect more to nature. I’m fortunate enough to have had people help me figure out the spiritual side of that. I think that is my reason for having such passion about understanding nature. I really appreciate hearing your side to this topic. I also appreciate how freely you are speaking and letting us in on your thoughts. I'm glad I have the privilege to have discussions with people and hear their point of view.

- Tamia N.

[tnenvs3000w22]

Nature's Dance with Privilege

Hey Everyone! It's that time of the week so welcome back to my blog!

This week I am discussing privilege and honestly when I read what I was going to be talking about I choked a bit. Honestly, it's something I joke about a lot but it is a bit uncomfortable. To start I will tell you where I'm coming from and then discuss the overall effects of privilege. So let me be frank. I am black, Afro-Caribbean to be more specific, I come from a middle-class immigrant family (now a blended family as my parents are divorced), I speak fluent English and dabble in many other languages, I’ve played sports all my life and I was born and raised in Canada. In terms of my education, I am very fortunate to have parents who were in a position to plan and pay for University tuition.

Speaking English in North America is a great asset but the benefits of that never occurred to me until I got older. Another interesting take is that both my parents have accents but can switch to an American accent easily to be understood and with the additional purpose of being taken seriously. In a way, it is oddly a privilege that I speak naturally with an American accent. Both my parents were able to pay for me to do sports, something which I have the privilege to continue in University. I think the most shocking privilege is socio-economic. I grew up in a town where majority of people around me growing up had the world at their fingertips, I often felt out of place. However, as I grew up I realized how fortunate I was and still am. I am by no means rich but my family has done well for themselves, it is something I never considered but it is true regardless of what I think. I also had the privilege to grow up in an area surrounded by trees and trails. I had the privilege to just travel to mountains to ski or to explore national parks. I had the privilege to grow up in a safe space where I was free to explore the world. Growing up in that environment made me want to share nature because regardless of where you come from nature does not judge. I hope for everyone to have that experience.

My definition of privilege is the ability to easily obtain opportunities without barriers or discrimination. As a nature interpreter, it is important to invite everyone into experiencing nature while providing a safe space. Privilege affects one's relationship with nature because it affects contributing factors such as knowledge, access, financial means and health. Growing up in a medical household my parents would always remind me of how lucky I am to be able to explore the world the way I can and how it is a privilege to not be bound to a hospital. Some people cannot physically access nature because of their health and that is a perspective that I was always reminded to never forget. Education can change how you see the world whether it be oral knowledge or written - they are valuable. In addition, some people may be looked down upon if they do not have a lot of knowledge on the subject or cannot understand the language the knowledge is being shared in. That creates a hostile environment and may result in animosity or restriction to exploring nature. It also creates a fear of nature, if one is not able to read signs when walking through the trail, they may be scared by the picture of a snake biting someone or the rash from poison ivy will ward them away from returning. Honestly, language is one of the main reasons I try to learn so many. I hate not being able to speak to everyone and make them comfortable. Money often breaks many barrier which is why it is something that many wish to have more of. It is interesting because people think that they can’t see these amazing places because of money when they can travel to other places that have just as much value, just not social value. I'm sure many people have been on trips outside the country but downplay it not realizing some people haven’t left the province let alone the country. In writing this blog I realize the many barriers one may experience and how I have been blind to many. It is interesting because we often discuss how we want to travel to all these amazing places but disregard the things that we do have access to. The places we have the privilege of exploring and understanding. It is a privilege to have the ability to take in all this information and learn from others.

As a nature interpreter, it is important for me to be self-aware and understand where my perspectives differ from that of my audience. And I also want to be as transparent as possible So no matter how big or small I am always interested to hear your relationship with nature or how you are investigating that relationship.

- Tamia N.

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.