The Well-Rounded Nest
I started my research with the question, “What would the United States look like if traditional ecological knowledge was the foundation to designing cities in the contemporary world?”
This led me to taking the three month course called Living Earth Core Course at the Lo—TEK Institute, reading dissertations, books, indulging in deeper conversation and inquiry.
A process slowly unraveling itself, my hope is to open the conversation on a topic that can be seen as strange or unrealistic.
Why has it become this way?
Colonialism, industrialization, linearity, utilitarianism… these systems have been put up on pedestal. From nature being our teacher to now relying on machines. As said in the Lo-TEK sessions, “Nature as the architect and culture as the engineer.” “As we lose this knowledge we lose biodiversity.”
We can design cities that coexist with nature. When we build systems rooted in reciprocity, we support layers of Earth’s biodiversity that we’re rarely taught to see.
I imagine a future where urban planners act as stewards of the land, incorporating circularity systems, planting native, indigenous communities at the heart of these plans and so much more.
This month is Native American Heritage Month, if you’d like to learn more about Ohio’s indigenous history please give @urbannativecollective a follow as they will be posting weekly slides this month.