The Prairie
For the last 8 years I have walked weekly with Juniper at Scatter Creek Prairie on Chehalis land at least weekly, and sometimes many times a week. This is one small part of a larger prairie ecosystem throughout the Coast Salish region. This ecosystem was created through the a co-evolution of the land with indigenous Coast Salish tribes who utilized the traditional practice of controlled burns to maintain open grasslands. Kwetlal (Camas), a staple food crop, is found on the prairies. You can read more about this relationship here. The prairies are now highly fragmented as a direct result of colonization and privatization of land. Without controlled burns the land begins to fill in with conifers, and invasive species such as scotch broom.
When I spend time on the prairie I experience companionship of the land and other species. I practice giving attention to what matters and receiving the reciprocal attention of the land. I notice what is different and what is the same season by season and year after year. As a Jew in diaspora I reflect on relating to the land as a form of torah study. As a transperson I find my body feels always welcome in this ever-changing landscape. Something I get to notice by being in this deep relationship is what we stand to lose with the changing climate. I also gained a deeper appreciation of what it means to engage in land back work, which really is an invitation to restore indigenous lands both by addressing structural forces of removal, privatization, criminalization, genocide, disinvestment, etc and by coming into deeper more interdependent relationship with the land and each other.
5785-86 or 2025
5784-85 or 2024
5783-84 or 2023
5782-83 or 2022
This year was especially wet on the prairie - really more the historical norm for the region pre-climate change - and I was crying all the time this year so it was perfect. I’ve never seen blooms on the prairie like this year. I still have vivid recall of the Larkspur bloom and how the evening hour complimented their color and it felt like being accompanied by their collective presence.
5781-82 or 2021
Controlled burns are part of the prairie conservation efforts designed to replicate the traditional indigenous practices that sustained the prairie before displacement by settlers. Photos from this year show a controlled burn. Native species which co-evolved with the fires come back quickly, while invasive species die back.
5780-81 or 2020
