SEFS 590C: Holistic Learning and Storytelling
School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
University of Washington
Winter 2020
Core Instructors: Kristiina Vogt, Samantha De Abreu, Alexa Schreier
Course Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30am – 10:20am
Course Location: Bloedel Hall 292
COURSE OVERVIEW
Complex and dynamic socio-environmental issues are common yet challenging to resolve since they often persist for decades. When these issues are left unresolved, history has shown us how societies can be pushed to a tipping point and even collapse. Our current decision-making models and frameworks continue to support a narrow, fragmented, and disciplinary-based approach that increases the risk of societal and/or environmental collapse. Thus, a new framework is needed that is capable of showing the interconnectedness between multiple knowledge areas, providing the information needed to mitigate climate change impacts. If such a framework is not developed, it will be challenging to achieve climate justice for our environment and for people dependent upon the environment for resources and ecosystem services. Fortunately, Native American Tribes have knowledge forming processes capable of forging bridges between the different knowledge streams needed to form a holistic understanding of our environment. This framework includes elements of bringing together a holistic knowledge base around any given issue and being able to communicate the issue and its potential solutions through storytelling. Only when a holistic framework is used to form knowledge needed to make environmental decisions will we be able to achieve climate, environmental, and social justice. This holistic learning and storytelling framework will aid in decolonizing our approaches to environmental issues such as conservation, health, and food security.
Over the quarter, our class will learn how to apply the Indigenous knowledge forming process to various environmental issues to develop a holistic understanding of the issue and to communicate the issue through the art of storytelling to engage community members and decisions makers.
esrm490C_sefs590C WInter2020_Flyer (1)
