I appreciate this angle on the invasive/non-native (etc) argument. Especially in regard to a different form of ecological management as not only a cognitive perspective but also a literal practice. Would love to hear more about how you’re imagining cultivate these relationships! Also, your paintings are so beautiful and pair very nicely with this essay.
Thanks so much for your comment! I was quite excited to read about this indigenous management framework that addresses the practical side regarding invasive species management, as you mentioned. I'm trying to deepen my understanding of actual practices from various perspectives so I can hopefully communicate that learning with more clarity through my art.
Have thought about the invasive-species/human-colonizer parallels a lot recently, especially with yellow crazy ants, this is really nice material for reflection! I've wondered if treating humans and nonhumans on more equitable grounds would invest invasive species (especially those as aggressive, organized, and exploitative as yellow crazy ants) with meaningful responsibility for their roles in ecological destruction, and where the implications of that could(/should) end up.
Thank you so much for this comment, it's really helpful for me to keep thinking about this. I think demonization and accountability are two different things. Accountability is necessary and must be assessed proportionately and specifically to the damage caused. In the case of a species, that would mean being removed from a particular area because of the concrete harm it causes there. In the case of immigration, people can and should be deported for specific violations of specific laws. A country cannot accept an infinite number of immigrants, especially those who do not comply with the regulations in place.
But as someone who has jumped through the hoops of immigration, my question is: are those regulations truly fair and inclusive, giving outsiders a genuine chance to integrate in a way that is not disruptive to the resident community? Is meeting them with hostility really helpful to what we are trying to achieve? In my experience, the system felt designed to set you up to fail, making compliance so difficult because of the aggressive view that "they are coming for our resources, we need to get rid of them, only keep the 'right' ones, however that gets defined" rather than asking: "what conditions would allow coexistence?"
And historically, what was considered 'right' was based on human convenience and aesthetic preference, not necessarily on the balance of the landscape. And that is what fascinates me about the indigenous framework. It advocates for management that is just and compassionate rather than driven by demonization, with an aim to understand the finer context of each landscape and for the sake of long-term balance. Which does not mean giving anyone a pass for causing harm. I think if we are going to be so pro-native, we must give the same passionate support to Indigenous-led biodiversity management, just as one would remove invasive plants to create space for a native plant to grow.
I appreciate this angle on the invasive/non-native (etc) argument. Especially in regard to a different form of ecological management as not only a cognitive perspective but also a literal practice. Would love to hear more about how you’re imagining cultivate these relationships! Also, your paintings are so beautiful and pair very nicely with this essay.
Thanks so much for your comment! I was quite excited to read about this indigenous management framework that addresses the practical side regarding invasive species management, as you mentioned. I'm trying to deepen my understanding of actual practices from various perspectives so I can hopefully communicate that learning with more clarity through my art.
Have thought about the invasive-species/human-colonizer parallels a lot recently, especially with yellow crazy ants, this is really nice material for reflection! I've wondered if treating humans and nonhumans on more equitable grounds would invest invasive species (especially those as aggressive, organized, and exploitative as yellow crazy ants) with meaningful responsibility for their roles in ecological destruction, and where the implications of that could(/should) end up.
Thank you so much for this comment, it's really helpful for me to keep thinking about this. I think demonization and accountability are two different things. Accountability is necessary and must be assessed proportionately and specifically to the damage caused. In the case of a species, that would mean being removed from a particular area because of the concrete harm it causes there. In the case of immigration, people can and should be deported for specific violations of specific laws. A country cannot accept an infinite number of immigrants, especially those who do not comply with the regulations in place.
But as someone who has jumped through the hoops of immigration, my question is: are those regulations truly fair and inclusive, giving outsiders a genuine chance to integrate in a way that is not disruptive to the resident community? Is meeting them with hostility really helpful to what we are trying to achieve? In my experience, the system felt designed to set you up to fail, making compliance so difficult because of the aggressive view that "they are coming for our resources, we need to get rid of them, only keep the 'right' ones, however that gets defined" rather than asking: "what conditions would allow coexistence?"
And historically, what was considered 'right' was based on human convenience and aesthetic preference, not necessarily on the balance of the landscape. And that is what fascinates me about the indigenous framework. It advocates for management that is just and compassionate rather than driven by demonization, with an aim to understand the finer context of each landscape and for the sake of long-term balance. Which does not mean giving anyone a pass for causing harm. I think if we are going to be so pro-native, we must give the same passionate support to Indigenous-led biodiversity management, just as one would remove invasive plants to create space for a native plant to grow.