Sense of Place Portfolio - Sense of Self/ Worldviews

Reflection on a Course Reading

Much of what's discussed in Braiding Sweetgrass for this section has to do with reciprocity and the idea of gift giving; I think that this is something that is sorely lacking in Western society, especially now. Kimmerer talks about wild strawberries and mentions that they were a gift from the earth, that they couldn't be earned, and this changes how we view the things that we hold in our hands. In our current system, the capitalistic way in which the West tends to live, we don't understand the notion that "the more something is shared, the greater its value becomes" (Kimmerer 27). I think this is something that is dangerous; when we are unable to share what we hold dear, unable to grasp that everything is not a commodity to be bought and sold, we stop holding things with care. I think that this notion is something that is found throughout Braiding Sweetgrass and is incredibly important.

It's also important to note that Native Americans held the land in high regards - they treasured it as it was because they understand that it was a gift, that the land belonged to itself and could not be owned by any one person - and that colonization destroyed much of the land we walk on, upturning the earth itself and soiling its nature with violence. The land was where "... responsibility to the world was enacted, sacred ground," and by ignoring this fact we risk losing our identities as people, as the descendants of Skywoman, and the earth we walk on (Kimmerer 17). As humans we are naturally inclined to create who we are from the culture around us, but how will we do this when there is no land to create that culture? Kimmerer consistently mentions that we have a responsibility towards the earth, one that cannot be fulfilled in our current society, and I think that she's correct in this assumption; it's vitally important that we understand this.

Journal Entry

I went on my walk shortly after class ended today. The first thing I noticed was that it was bright. It wasn't bright in the way that a summer day is, but rather a cold sort of bright; the ground had become a reflective surface that absorbed and released the sun with ten times as much power, blinding anyone who looked at it for too long. Everything seems brighter in the winter, especially on days like today, but not the colorful brightness we're used to seeing in the fall or summer; the winter is white and grey and filled with watered-down shades of color, but the lack of color makes the light reflect more directly to your eye. On top of this, the air smelt cold; there's no other way to describe the smell of the world during the winter than cold, sharp, and breathtaking. The air wraps around your nose and mouth, even through a mask, and crawls its way into your body so that the only thing you can smell until your body thaws is the cold. There weren't any animals or other noises I could hear besides the occasional car driving by and the wind blowing around my ears - they had turned red by the time I got back to my dorm - and the coldness of outside bit my fingers even though I was wearing gloves; my nose and cheeks were red and my eyes were watery when I finally arrived inside. I personally love the feeling of winter, not only because of what I can interact with sense wise but also because it signals a new beginning is coming; that might just be me, but winter is very freeing when you take everything in.

Source

Cultural and Worldview Frames

Topic Connection

Our Sense of Self and Worldviews connect closely with our social identities; who we are and who we are perceived to be distinctly shapes the way in which we view the world. An example of this is the way in which a man and woman see the world; there are different social reactions, expectations, and institutions in place that cause a difference in perspective. A man will not face the same obstacles as a woman and, as a result, is unable to view the world in the same way that she does. On the other hand, our natural environment and the world around us also shapes our social identity; humans are dependent on the world around us and, as such is the case, this is what shapes our cultural landscape, eventually forming our social identities. Who we identify as and how we view the world has as much to do with the natural world around us as it does the social world.

Interview Notes

Q: Myself
A: Mila Alicea

Q: How are you doing this week?

A: I'm pretty tired and hungry to be honest. I had eggplant parm today... it was really good.

Q: Are there any identities and social locations that define your perspective on the world? If so, what are they and how?

A: I am a Latina, a Catholic-Jew (but I was raised more in the Catholic faith), and a woman. I think it makes me see the world more negatively. There's a lot of 'shame-culture' that exists too; there was a time in high school when I remember I was wearing leggings and got shamed for it because people thought it was too revealing. People take the smallest and most ridiculous things and turn it into shame, or connect it to a negative thing in the past; minority women face this type of thing the most since they're always being judged for being who they are. That's definitely impacted how I see the world.

Q: Do you think our social identities impact our worldview, our worldview our social identities, or both?

A: I think that our social identities impact our worldview. For me, as a woman and a Latina, I feel like everyone's out to get me; I assume that most people dislike me because I've become used to having to look out for myself in a world that wasn't build for me. The world is made for white cis men and so it's harder for women, especially minority women, to survive and thrive.

Q: In the first essay within Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Kimmerer, we're introduced to the Native American legend of the Skywoman and how she and the earth worked in tandem to produce life for all of us. Is there a story similar to this that you grew up with? Did this impact how you view the world and yourself within it? Do you think the nature of reciprocity should be interwoven more within Western society?

A: Since I grew up on a farm in Puerto Rico, my grandma told me that if we were loving and kind, and talked to the plants, gave them water, and gave our animals attention they would love us back; God would see that and recognize that we were giving love and care towards the earth around us.

When I was younger I thought that people were kind and would naturally want to reciprocate kindness towards others. However, when I got older I realized that this wasn't really the case; I had to remember that I still had to give others the kindness I had because it's what you should be putting out into the world. Holding hate hurts you more than it hurts other people. My grandma told me that you can love and help people, but you also need to love yourself in order to give back.

It's the idea that if you pick an apple, you should plant a tree. My grandpa used to plant the inside of a coconut after picking plantains from their trees. The whole idea is beautiful; you should give back after receiving. I think it's a huge part of our responsibilities as people.