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Exploring The Geography of Hope
In 1960, Stegner wrote his Wilderness Letter to the US Congress in which he made the argument that altered the course of how America viewed public land and wilderness. In the letter he described wilderness as places of spiritual renewal, the birth of awe, and recognition of identity. He concluded, saying we need to preserve wilderness as a means of “reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope.”
wîhkask
Joseph Naytowhow
In my travels as a young man searching for meaning in my life I’d often go to ceremonies where I would sit with Elders, offering to help them with their work in exchange for knowledge. They would be happy to see me. In those days not many people wanted to learn. All the elders I’d meet would light a braid of what looked like common grass. I loved the sweet smell of the smoke and found comfort in it. In my language, nehiyowîwin, or Cree, I was told this was called wîhkask.