What Tree Knows You Best?

A few years ago, I was at a professional learning workshop and Haley Higdon, Program Director of Natural Curiosity asked, “What tree knows you best?”  I love this question!  In considering my response, this question opened the door for me to delve deeper into my understanding of reciprocal relationships with the land, an Indigenous Way of Knowing first introduced to me by Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book, “Braiding Sweetgrass”.

In considering my answer to Haley’s question, my thinking was turned on its head. Instead of considering my relationship with the land as something beginning with me, this question prompted me to consider the inverse… 

At first I thought about the trees I grew up with- most notably the Cedars in our yard that I loved to climb and bike around as a little girl.  I then thought about all of the time I spent up north in my 20s, and the one massive Jack Pine who watched over me.  I thought about the Manitoba Maple (pictured above) that stands tall and lovingly in the yard where I currently call home.

I started to consider, for the first time, how well these trees knew me, and how my relationship with the land also begins with them.  I thought about how the trees of my childhood watched over me as I played around them, witnessing me develop from a little toddler through to my late teens; about how the trees up north watched me step into adulthood and learn to spread my wings; about how the Manitoba Maple has watched me grow into motherhood. 

I am very fortunate to have many trees who know me well.  

Realizing this, and thinking about my relationship with the land in this way, fills me with a deep sense of love and belonging- a deeper sense than when I only considered my relationship with the land as being one-sided.  

It also brings to my attention that this relationship, and all of the benefits I derive from it, come from my privilege of having a lifetime of experiences in the land.  And this is one of the big reasons why I currently choose to work in the public education system: so I may have the opportunity to support all of the children in my community in having the opportunity to likewise either begin or continue to develop their own relationship with the land.  

Is this something that resonates with you?  No matter how you come to have children in your life- perhaps you are a parent or grandparent, a childcare provider or early childhood educator-  is supporting children in developing a relationship with the land something you are also working towards?  Then perhaps you might like to join me in considering the following question: 

What tree will come to know the children in my life best?

This question also brings about the question of how we, as adults, can support children in building this relationship. For me, I turn to song. I invite you to check out the “Tree Song Cycle” that I have written and shared on this website.  Each song has an accompanying blog post, with thoughts on how to use the song while working with children.  There are also lyrics and chords for you to play and sing along, or to lead the songs on your own!

For this time of year, I recommend starting with “Thank You, Tree”. I wrote a blog about how I use this song while working with children, and you can find that HERE.  The Coles notes version is that it is a song intended to give gratitude to the tree, to consider who else might have a relationship with the tree- and therefore potentially spark some inquiry- and to also begin exploring your voice.  Above all, the song is very fun to sing! I have great plans for LandHeartSong for this fall and the coming year, which includes sharing new songs with you, and finding new ways to support you in working with children in the land, with song!  I’ll be back soon with more to share!