The relationship between people and the world they live in is a give and take relationship, which is similar to the relationships most people have with one another. The world we live in gives us the resources to create a life for ourselves. It gives us a means for mental stimulation as we observe it daily and still learn new things about it, much to our pleasant surprise. The world around us also gives us special places of self reflection and inner peace. In return, we care for the world around us and preserve the things that it gives us. I look at the natural world as an extended part of my family. It is a complex entity of many layers, very much like a human being. The care taker in me is concerned for its well being, but this is not a new-found concept. “Indigenous people view both themselves and nature as part of an extended ecological family that shares ancestry and origins. It is an awareness that life in any environment is viable only when humans view the life surrounding them as kin. The kin, or relatives, include all the natural elements of an ecosystem” (Salmón, 2000). Man is equal to nature in this context, but not more powerful. The world around us has too many undiscovered mysteries and that alone gives it greater power over humankind.
Race, class, and ethnicity have played a role in the human relationships throughout history. Native American tribes are perfect examples of this as much their history is associated with spiritual beliefs that held great respect for the natural world. Today, race, class, and ethnicity have rendered themselves irrelevant. The importance of sustainability is recognized by households of all races and creeds. “Green” practices are discussed on the radio, on TV, on the internet, and at your local grocer, just to name a few. Sustainable goods and services are part of an emerging market that will continue to grow and reach out to consumers of all classes as well. This approach seems very much on the surface, but the cooperation and interest of the general populous in “green” practices shows that people really do have the capacity to care for the world around them. People have the capacity to give back what they have taken, while many carry the desire to protect and preserve and treat the natural world as kin. I think this relationship is more natural than our technologically driven world has led us to believe. Our concern and admiration for the world around is evident when we are awed by a beautiful sunset, or marveled by the strength of a storm passing through, or intrigued by the behavior of another species in the natural world. We have always been connected to the world we live in through our endless curiosity, and that is what will continue to bring us closer to fully understanding it one layer at a time.
But how can we get beyond a superficial relationship with the Earth?
By observing your natural surroundings, particularity the behaviors of other species, you'll be able to see behaviors that you have in common with other species, and that alone enables you to connect to them. While observing another species, your senses are registering external stimuli like the distinct smells of your surroundings, the sounds, the light filtering through the leaves, the moisture in the air touching your skin - all of these factors tap into your emotions and create a memory of your observation. This memory will always be triggered by the smells, sounds, lighting, and feel of that "place" you encountered, and will therefore trigger the same emotions that were triggered when you first encountered this "place".
I think getting people to really pay attention to their senses when they are trying to connect with the natural environment is a great way for them to appreciate and understand any of the history behind a particular place. It becomes a multi-dimensional understanding as opposed to one dimensional, and only by delving deeper can you really make an impression on humankind that will encourage them to care about the world in a way they never knew they could.
Salmón, E. (2000). Kincentric ecology: indigenous perceptions of the human-nature relationship. Ecological Applications, 10(5)
