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founding
Mar 12, 2023Liked by Melissa Bowman

Great explanation of the importance of emphasizing stewardship of land over ownership. I think about the distinction a lot when it comes to other financial resources as well, e.g. a shift in mindset away from "my money" to "the money over which I have stewardship." I can think of a few prominent business leaders who would make different decisions if they had a stewardship mindset!

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Mar 3, 2023Liked by Melissa Bowman

Great post. As I understand it stewardship of land has also been a more common idea in Europe. I think part of the origin of this weird way of thinking here may have been the odd way that land was considered a material asset by early colonizers. Nothing we can't get over though. And yes taking the cue from indigenous thinking about what land is could be key.

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In my time here in Canada (2005 onwards), I have not found one community to be a part of, a space where my scars and wounds would be viewed as part of who I am and allow love to be expressed towards healing. I have found every human-operated space to be inhospitable and unwelcoming. After I moved to Waterloo in 2006, I recall one fall where the edge of the forest at the western end of Columbia had turned a deep shade of red - all of the leaves on the trees were exactly the same color and at the same time. I have never seen that happen since, though the colors in fall are always spectacular. I have taken many, many walks and bike rides through this stretch of forest. It has been the one place where I get to feel a sense of peace, tranquility and healing - it is the one place where I feel like a whole, respected, loved human being, a feeling I have never experienced anywhere else, not even at home. This has deepened my respect for the land and every form of life that lives here. In 2016, 2017, I found several large areas in the forest where large parties had clearly taken place - I cleared out at least 25 large black garbage bags worth of waste from the forest, making several trips with my former partner Karina who was dealing with cancer and cancer treatment at the time. I struggle to find meaningful connections and community and have experienced the severely distressful state of being suicidal. If not for these precious patches of forest which I love biking through in the warmer months, it is difficult to see what part of this city, province and country would have kept me healthy enough to attempt to implement Right Livelihood - a task which I have unfortunately failed at. However, I can continue to implement The Noble Eightfold Path through renunciation of all worldly desires and possessions to pursue ordination as a Buddhist monk. There is much love, respect and admiration to be accorded to Indigenous peoples, and land.

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