As we work to express our identities as people of this land (as distinct from people who live on this land) … Chelan River … we do well to remember that the […]
In Cascadia, Metaphor is Colonialism at Work
The Colonial Back Country
What is “behind”? What is the “back country”? What is it back of? What is it behind? “Behind the valley” perhaps? The View from Central on the Keremeous River But that doesn’t […]
Grassland Tours for the Okanagan?
Grass evolved to thrive in hot fire landscapes. Given that human activity has increased heat and fire … … across the planet … … shouldn’t we stop mowing grass and … … […]
Decolonizing the “Rivers” of Cascadia
This flow… … is mapped as “The Okanogan River.” It is a colonial term, yet certainly not the most egregious. I live near the top of its headwaters. Head of the Lake […]
The Invitations of Helen Humphreys’ Beautiful and Troubling Book “The River”
It’s a beautiful book. Designed, by the looks of it, to be sold as a gift shop memento, Victorian perhaps. Note the trompe d’oeil of the bug on the cover, which takes […]
McLaughlin’s Canyon Illustrates the Racist Basics Behind Claims of Climate Change
Climate change, eh. Here at McLaughlin’s Canyon on the Old Trail to the North, the water that undercut the canyon wall is long gone, as is the fire that took the firs […]
God on the Fly at Buffalo Eddy
I have been asked how pre-modern experience … Buffalo Eddy can relate to post-modern experience. Disturbed Doe It would be a pleasure to just be able to say, hey, they are the […]
Maps Written on the Land
Let’s say you are along the river and want to make an important map. To learn how, why not go to Buffalo Eddy on the Snake? There are patterns here. Buffalo Eddy […]
Bees of the Earth, Flowers of the Air
The double-flowered plum my father planted to give away to friends has found a home here, while he has gone to sea forever. After two years, she has a visitor! I like […]
Flowing in Place
Isn’t naming great. Why don’t we call the homeland of the Wanapum, the “Wana” “Pu’um”, the water people, a river, and be done with it. But there’s a catch to this, because […]
Okanagan Okanogan 