Our Past Dialogues
On November 26th, 2016...
We delved into the topic of happiness and the multifacted nature of happiness. During our dialogue, we explored how subjective happiness can be, and the different meaning that it encompasses for everyone. We also explored the different ways that each of us finds happiness in our lives, including the practice of gratitude, the benefits of physical activity and being present in the natural world. A shared understanding was concluded that happiness is not a destination, but a constant journey that one embarks on.
Our dialogue centered around the following resources:
What is Happiness, Anyway? - Acacia Parks
The Happiness Project with Gretchen Rubin
Why Does Happiness Matter? - Mark Williamson
Becoming Alive Again, Finding Happiness Where you Are - Julia Matthews
For this dialogue, we embarked on the Capilano Pacific Trail at Ambleside Park.
There was a mix of urban and rural terrain, with various viewing spots along the way.
What is Happiness, Anyway? - Acacia Parks
The Happiness Project with Gretchen Rubin
Why Does Happiness Matter? - Mark Williamson
Becoming Alive Again, Finding Happiness Where you Are - Julia Matthews
For this dialogue, we embarked on the Capilano Pacific Trail at Ambleside Park.
There was a mix of urban and rural terrain, with various viewing spots along the way.
On October 29th, 2016...
...we explored the topics of cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. Our dialogue delved into how power and influence interplay with the two concepts. We also learned how difficult it can truly be to draw a distinction between the two. With our dialogue having taken place during both the lead up to the U.S. Presidential election and Halloween weekend, the topic had great relevance. After concluding the dialogue, participants left with a greater sense of the importance of exercising empathy on a daily basis.
Our dialogue centered around the following resources:
From Cultural Exchange to Transculturation: A Review and Reconceptualization of Cultural Appropriation - Richard A. Rogers and
The Difference Between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation - Jarune Uwujaren
Held on Burnaby Mountain, our dialogue took place both on the trails and at the SFU Burnaby Campus. We endured heavy rainfall and a steep climb up 500+ stairs.
On September 24th, 2016...
...we explored the question of how trauma can provide possibility for connecting with the more-than-human world. Specifically, we discussed the intertwining systems of oppression that can both hinder and assist our ability to form reciprocal relationships with non-humans.
We drew on:
Clementine Morrigan’s piece titled
“Trauma as Possibility”
We met at 10:00am at Trout Lake Park in East Vancouver.
Check out some snapshots from our adventures!
We drew on:
Clementine Morrigan’s piece titled
“Trauma as Possibility”
We met at 10:00am at Trout Lake Park in East Vancouver.
Check out some snapshots from our adventures!
Our dialogue kicked off with an overview of Clementine Morrigan's piece. We then paired off, walking about the park discussing what had came up for us through reading the article. It was a chilly fall day, so walking around brought some real warmth to the group.
We returned to a full group circle and came to questions of "Do you agree that trauma could be seen as a possibility for building relationships?" and "Why do you think our society is so scared of looking at trauma? How does the fear of looking at trauma affect our ability to build intimacies with nonhumans?" .
The discussion that flowed from these questions were deeply touching as a facilitator. The group really leaned into the discomfort of the topic, and opened up a variety of new lenses and contradictions to understanding the role of trauma in human and more-than-human relationships.
Lunch was at 12:30 and shortly after we engaged in the most creative part of the day, which was improv! Laughter was pouring out into the air of a sometimes dreary park. It was incredible to see how engaged members of the group were in such a silly and vulnerable exercise!
We finished the day together talking about the question of the "dirty river" (in reference to Dirty River written by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha). We thought about Trout lake as a "dirty lake" of sorts, and the ways that people talk about less "pristine" or "natural" environments. We contemplated what it would mean to love a "dirty lake", and what repercussions would come if our society had more admiration for the dirty lakes, rivers, oceans, streams of the world.
In other words, what opportunities would come if we were to love the traumatized land and bodies in our society?
We returned to a full group circle and came to questions of "Do you agree that trauma could be seen as a possibility for building relationships?" and "Why do you think our society is so scared of looking at trauma? How does the fear of looking at trauma affect our ability to build intimacies with nonhumans?" .
The discussion that flowed from these questions were deeply touching as a facilitator. The group really leaned into the discomfort of the topic, and opened up a variety of new lenses and contradictions to understanding the role of trauma in human and more-than-human relationships.
Lunch was at 12:30 and shortly after we engaged in the most creative part of the day, which was improv! Laughter was pouring out into the air of a sometimes dreary park. It was incredible to see how engaged members of the group were in such a silly and vulnerable exercise!
We finished the day together talking about the question of the "dirty river" (in reference to Dirty River written by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha). We thought about Trout lake as a "dirty lake" of sorts, and the ways that people talk about less "pristine" or "natural" environments. We contemplated what it would mean to love a "dirty lake", and what repercussions would come if our society had more admiration for the dirty lakes, rivers, oceans, streams of the world.
In other words, what opportunities would come if we were to love the traumatized land and bodies in our society?
On August 27th, 2016...
...we explored the topic of anthropocentricity in environmental activism. Specifically, we asked ourselves: what do we gain from a human-centric focus in environmental concerns? What do we lose from this focus?
Before our dialogue, we listened to/read:
Wangari Maathai: Planting the Future (On Being)
Majora Carter & Cal DeWitt: Discovering Where We Live: Reimagining Environmentalism (On Being)
Vandana Shiva: Excerpts from "Water Wars"
We met at 10:00 a.m. at the trailhead for Crystal Falls in Coquitlam.
Below are some take-away points & pictures from our experience.
Before our dialogue, we listened to/read:
Wangari Maathai: Planting the Future (On Being)
Majora Carter & Cal DeWitt: Discovering Where We Live: Reimagining Environmentalism (On Being)
Vandana Shiva: Excerpts from "Water Wars"
We met at 10:00 a.m. at the trailhead for Crystal Falls in Coquitlam.
Below are some take-away points & pictures from our experience.
We enjoyed a silent walk half-way into the hike to acknowledge the land on which we were trekking, lunch by the waterfall, a dialogue above the falls, some (cold) swimming, and an amazing close encounter with a heron on our way back!
We differentiated between having a "human" lens and a "human-centric" lens. Although it may not be possible to remove the human lens through which we view the world, the point was brought up that removing the anthropocentric lens increases our empathy. We talked about the difficulties empathy can present when we begin to empathize, and how to create balance.
The question "How can we build a positive environmentalism?" was raised, and the importance of place was highlighted; whether it was through considering the women's coops in Mexico that intentionally do not sell to global markets, or Majora Carter's idea of making a place beautiful (again), so that we can take pride in it.
Our dialogue was so rich we can't possibly cover it all here. Reflecting on the dialogue, people shared the following in our closing circle about how/what they felt:
We differentiated between having a "human" lens and a "human-centric" lens. Although it may not be possible to remove the human lens through which we view the world, the point was brought up that removing the anthropocentric lens increases our empathy. We talked about the difficulties empathy can present when we begin to empathize, and how to create balance.
The question "How can we build a positive environmentalism?" was raised, and the importance of place was highlighted; whether it was through considering the women's coops in Mexico that intentionally do not sell to global markets, or Majora Carter's idea of making a place beautiful (again), so that we can take pride in it.
Our dialogue was so rich we can't possibly cover it all here. Reflecting on the dialogue, people shared the following in our closing circle about how/what they felt:
- Ephemeral
- Excited
- Thoughtful
- Pensive
- Energized
- Liveliness
- Rejuvenated
- Making art