This paper was recommended to me by Dr. Hardman. It discusses the significance that place has for Indigenous peoples, specifically looking at the landscape that the Coast Salish nations live on. One concept that really stood out to me is that energy and life is found in all that surrounds us. This goes some way to explain why it is that Indigenous peoples are able to find a much better balance with their local environment. Rather than seeing it all as exploitable resources, it is respected as much as another human would be respected, as a living being. Marker mentions the “ensouled landscape functions in harmony with human needs – provided the correct preparations and protocols of humility are enacted” (p. 458). This term humility is so important and really not used enough in the mainstream discussion of the environment. Acknowledging our dependence on the environment to take care of us will be one key element that I want to carry forward in my teaching practice. If students can leave my classes understanding just how much we rely on the environment to be healthy and functioning, the element of humility will hopefully come through.
Analysis of Marker paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09518398.2018.1430391?needAccess=true