Diversity on the Trail, Diversity in Nature, and Diversity in Exploration
I was recently emailed and heartily critiqued after providing
an online Zoom presentation on our #Hike4Birds for advocating that we need more
multiculturalism and more diversity in those we are attracting into nature,
into birding, and into the sciences.
The author of the email very bluntly stated that we “need to
dial it back a little”, commenting that “there are too many opinions and
attitudes”, that “they were sick of tolerating diversity and and foreigners and
people who are different” and that “perhaps you needed to rethink promoting
diversity so much”. They went on to
claim that in “Canada there isn’t enough room for so many different people”,
“especially all these sorts that can’t even figure out who they are or who they
are sticking it into.” They concluded by
saying “now is not the time for foreigners and others. Now is the time for normal Canadians.”
Well this is not the first time we have received these types
of comments and, at least online, these types of extreme attitudes seem to be
on the rise, so we felt it was time to address them as best as we can.
Generally speaking, we both find these types of
confrontations and questions in this day and age to be stunning. In responding to these types of comments I
generally don’t know where to begin, so please accept my apologies if what
follows is a little rambled and passionate. As I do feel very passionately
about increasing diversity in the outdoors and ensuring that everyone knows and
feels that nature I is accessible to them.
To begin, lets be very clear – I’ve been out in Canada for a
while now. Across Canada, in its
wildernesses, its forests, in its meadows, its marshes, on its country lanes,
on its trails, its roads and highways, deep into the backwoods and in the
Boreal Forest and I can absolutely guarantee you that there is more than enough
room for all of us. Even in the crowded
suburbs of our largest cities there is room.
Room for people of different cultures, faiths, and identities. Canada
is a nation blessed with many many things – including lots of space.
Second, I am a scientist and ecologist and so, sorry, but you
aren’t going to convince me of the virtues of monocultures and the supposed
dangers of diversity. Nature informs who
I am – my ideas, my identity and my research.
And nature is pretty clear, nature thrives on diversity, complexity and
a vast array of possibilities. In fact
Ecosystems crash when they lack variety and diversity. We don’t need monocultures, we in fact
desperately need diversity of all sorts to survive and thrive.
Third, far too many messages that we now receive talk about
what is ‘normal’ and ‘normalicy’. Well, I don’t even know what ‘normal’ is
supposed to be. In fact, from my
perspective whatever “normalicy” is or is supposed to be isn’t cutting it. Look around and judge for yourself. Are people generally happier these days? Has the acquisition of plenty made the world
better? Does staying online longer and
longer make us more connected? Do the
goals of our society as a whole make sense on a regular basis? From what I can see, ‘normalicy’ has not only
gotten us into this mess, but it is failing to produce the solution. Let’s be honest, today we have big problems
facing us in our families, our communities, in the environment and complex
issues confronting all of us in the world.
So we need all the perspectives, ideas, and voices we can find adding
their uniqueness into the conversation to find a new set of imaginings and
approaches to the challenges facing all of us today. We absolutely need
alternative ideas. I’ve been told I’m smart, after all I have a
PhD and have published on things, but you know what? I don’t have any of the solutions we are
looking for. It is one of the reasons I
am out there hiking trying to make sure that whomever the individual is whose
insights and ideas can help us knows that they are entirely welcome to stand up
and join in.
This isn’t the Victorian Age, I’m not waiting on the person
smoking a pipe and wearing spectacles to discover the answer. I am, out here trying to show that there is
more than enough room at the table and in the conversation for the non-binary individual
with the short spiky hair, tattoo, and tablet to show me how their unique
vision of the world can help us move forward and help us address the challenges
we all face today.
Nature is not for me, or you, but for all of us. Canada is and must be for all of us.
We have said it time and time again on our trek, in our
presentations, and we will continue reiterating that nature is right outside
all of our doorsteps. Nature exists from
our backyards to the Boreal. You don’t
have to be a professional athlete to go out into it, you don’t need special
skills, or expensive equipment to enjoy the outdoors. You don’t need to be a particular type of
individual or have vast education. You
need curiosity and passion. With these
two things EVERYONE and ANYONE can get outdoors, can be a scientist and is an
explorer. EVERYONE.
One of our primarily interests and goals in
hiking across Canada has been and will continue to be to encourage youth to
reconnect with nature as well as to dramatically expand upon the traditional
attitude that it is only specific peoples, with certain backgrounds,
educations, attitudes and looks, and identities that belong outdoors and in the
sciences. We both whole heartedly and
unreservedly believe in expanding the multiculturalism and diversity of
individuals who become interested in Canada’s Natural beauty, the Sciences, and
Exploration. It is through diversity
that we can achieve new imaginings of our identities, communities and ways of
critically thinking about the challenges facing our environment. Other people’s identities does not negate
them from being curious, being insightful, being a scientist, or being an
explorer – but it might give us the unique perspective or radical innovation
that we desperately need right now.
When you see the state of birds in North
America, when you see the projections for our environment, when you see the
effects of Global Pandemics on our society, and when you realize the enormity
of the challenges that face us in this world - there is no denying that we need
all the perspectives that we can gather.
To anyone who doesn’t feel that they fit
in, trust me that there is always a place on the trail or watching the bird-feeder for you – trust me there are a ton of people waiting there to cheer
you on.
Well said.
ReplyDeleteGood statement. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
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