18th Jun 2024 Gemini 1.5 Pro
Jodi Gustafson, a member of RIVER Collective, shares her personal journey from mainstream conservation work to co-founding RIVER, an organization dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous approaches to regeneration. Growing up in the Yukon, Jodi was immersed in conservation efforts from a young age. However, as she progressed in her career, she became disillusioned with the limitations of mainstream conservation, finding its strategies uninspiring and disconnected from the deeper spiritual and emotional aspects of environmental stewardship.
A pivotal moment occurred while working on a salmon restoration project with a First Nation community. An elder's poignant words, "The elders are crying," struck a chord within Jodi, revealing a disconnect she had from the land and the profound grief felt by those who viewed the salmon as kin. This realization prompted her to seek guidance from elders and explore Indigenous perspectives, recognizing the need for a more holistic approach to conservation that addressed the root causes of environmental degradation. As Jodi delved deeper into Indigenous knowledge systems, she found inspiration in their enduring connection to the land and their understanding of interconnectedness.
"And where I started to see more and more, like as I finished this master's in conservation program, as I was hearing about examples that I was feeling really inspired by, they were all examples led by Indigenous communities that hadn't forgotten that connection, that had, despite all of the violence of, you know, continued colonialism, had maintained that connection as kin. And I felt like I want to support, I want to get behind that, I want to support those efforts. I want to support those efforts to do whatever I can from my, you know, that's appropriate from my position, my positionality, to be able to enable them to steward their ancestral homelands in a good way."
RIVER Collective embodies a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals working towards a shared vision of advancing Indigenous stewardship. The acronym RIVER, which stands for Revitalizing Indigenous Virtues for Earth's Regeneration, reflects the organization's emphasis on values derived from sacred teachings, recognizing the limitations of materialistic or superficial values. Guided by elders like Mark Wedge, RIVER prioritizes listening, learning, and knowing one's place in supporting Indigenous communities.
Their approach is centered on facilitating reconnection as a foundational step towards environmental healing. Jodi highlights the importance of recognizing the limitations of dominant Western worldviews, which often prioritize economic growth and individualism over interconnectedness and reciprocity.
One of RIVER's flagship offerings is the "Illuminating Worldviews" program, a transformative journey that guides participants towards a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Structured as a metaphorical journey down a river, the program begins by prompting individuals to reflect on their own identities, values, and ancestral connections.
"And there can be, you know, these systems that we live within have become so normalized as to become invisible, right? Like, and I think sometimes we can think that this is universal reason, a universal way of reasoning, but really it's one worldview that came from a specific place from actually quite a, quite a dark, unhealthy place when we look at where a lot of our Western, you know, dominant legal governance systems and things have come from."
Subsequent modules explore the concept of worldviews, delving into the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the dominant Western worldview and its impact on our relationship with the natural world. Through this process, participants are encouraged to deconstruct ingrained assumptions and embrace diverse perspectives. The ultimate goal is to foster a greater appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, creating a foundation for respectful collaboration and co-creation.
Jodi's work with RIVER extends to supporting the Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellowship, a youth-led initiative focused on developing a distinctly Indigenous approach to climate action. Recognizing the limitations of conventional climate plans that often rely on technological solutions and individual consumer choices, the fellowship centers on the belief that "reconnection is climate action."
"But I think that those, from what the fellows are bringing forward, is that those are only treating the symptoms of climate change, not the root cause. Right. Which they're saying is disconnection from all parts of ourselves. Mm-hmm. disconnection from each other, disconnection from spirit, and disconnection from the land."
The fellowship, guided by Jocelyn Jo Strach (Dukalama), emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with oneself, each other, spirit, and the land as the foundation for addressing the climate crisis. This approach shifts the focus from solely mitigating emissions to addressing the underlying societal and cultural values that have contributed to our current predicament.
Jodi envisions a future where climate action plans are deeply localized, reflecting the unique knowledge, cultures, and aspirations of each place. The "Reconnection Vision" put forward by the Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellowship offers a framework for moving beyond superficial solutions and embracing a more profound transformation. The seeds of reconnection, such as slowing down, working together, and prioritizing relationships, provide a roadmap for creating a more just and sustainable future.
While acknowledging the significant challenges we face, Jodi finds hope in the growing momentum of movements like Bioneers, where diverse voices converge to share solutions and inspire action. She emphasizes the importance of celebrating wins, big and small, as a way to sustain momentum and foster collective resilience in the face of adversity. Jodi's story is a testament to the power of listening, learning, and embracing diverse perspectives in the pursuit of a more just and regenerative future. Her work with RIVER Collective exemplifies a shift towards recognizing the interconnectedness of social and ecological well-being, paving the way for a more hopeful and transformative approach to addressing the complex challenges of our time.
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