What is your relationship status with the land?
Reflections on Land
Over the course of the past year, I’ve been reflecting on my relationship to land. I have lived on Treaty 7 almost my entire life. I was born on the British colonial island of Jamaica. This land of Treaty 7 offers me beauty in the many seasons that exist. Learning to understand and embrace my unique relationship to land takes many forms whether it’s impact of dry skin, headaches during chinooks, or how best to plant Tomatoes in the Spring! There are plenty of qualities I enjoy, the smells, the blue sky, the Bow River the various community of Squirrels that live in my neighbourhood. All of it together, and so much more encompass my relationship status.
in a Posture of Learning!
There’s so much to learn and understand and improve my relations. Growing up I wasn’t taught about my relationship as a Treaty partner. I knew that Calgary had built highways named after nations, my friend’s parents made money in oil & gas extraction. Different signals of what the land was supposed to do and my relationship to it provided me with the false idea that the land was something to be exploited. I am looking to change my status to land as a committed Treaty partner.
Medicine Plant Walk
I had two opportunities to host Kalyn Kodiak a Métis Herbalist on walks with the CDLI community. Kalyn’s knowledge, passion and grounding presence guided uour walk at different locations.
In May, we gathered in the middle of the City at Highfield Regenerative Farms and in October, at St Patrick’s Island Park. I encourage you to check out both of these beautiful spaces. Part of why we gathered was to support our collective understanding of what it can mean to acknowledge the land we’re on. We have to see the land as part of our community. Kalyn described how the plants are like our siblings, they provide medicine, stories and beauty. I was surprised that we didn’t have to walk far to increase the intimacy I have with the land.
I have a desire to connect, I learned to be curious, to slow down take an interest in my surroundings. Actually get to know the land. Express gratitude and deepen what it means to protect it. Thank you!
