LOCALadk Magazine

22 Spring 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk He explains the evolution of the project and his collaboration with the Mohawk people this way: "I was ver y cautious at the start. I've been involved in several works that are inspired by other cul- tures in the past ( Tibetan, Chechen) and I was keenly aware of the question of cultural misappropriation. However, the way this came about set my mind at ease." After spending some time in The Wild Center's woods, and decid- ing he wanted to create something in an indigenous language, Pete met someone he knew who is Mohawk, Kamala Cesar. "She told me about the Thanksgiving Ceremony. The notion of thanking nature seemed a perfect fit for what I hoped to create, and so then and there we called Amalli Nalli, who teaches Mohawk at the Freedom School in Akwesasne, and she agreed to act as translator," Pete said. Things came together from there, and after the work was created Pete also met with Tom Porter, one of the chief Mohawk elders, and a few others in the community. When discussing the Mohawk reac- tion to the iForest, Pete says, "I can only speak for those I've directly met, but they are quite a few in number now, and to date ever yone has said nice things and been extremely positive." Pete hopes that anyone who visits the iForest will experience a deeper sense of connectedness to themselves and others. "I feel it's important and beneficial for many reasons. One distinction be - tween European and Native American cultures that I obser ve is that Europeans have tended to see themselves as having dominion over nature, whereas Native Americans have tended to see us as a part of nature. Science most definitely agrees with the Native Americans. I believe that when we are in better touch with nature we tend to be kinder, happier, and more creative." Stephanie says the iForest gets right to the heart of what the nat- ural histor y museum is all about. "One of the things that The Wild Center does well, and that we continue to explore all the time, is that we believe that ever yone needs to have a personal connection with nature." A sign at the iForest trailhead encourages this, suggesting you walk at a distance from others in your group, so that you can soak ever ything in. "It is intended to be a contemplative experience as you walk through," Stephanie said. "I've walked through there a hun- dred times, and it never gets old. The light and the sound of the birds – they all become a part of the composition. And the piece changes because of that. It is ever changing, just like nature." Pete firmly believes that when people have a deeper sense of connection to nature, they have a deeper sense of connection to themselves and others. " When we have that empathy there's no lon- ger us and them, because they are us. And that's important. That matters. That affects the way you make decisions, the way you view the world." Stephanie wants visitors to know that the iForest is "probably not like anything you've ever experienced in another place." She added, "This is a place that is intentionally created, that uses a different sort of mode of communicating with you – not what you might ex- pect in a place like The Wild Center." No matter what time of year you find yourself visiting the iFor- est, it is sure to be a highlight of your trip to The Wild Center. From the moment you arrive in the parking lot, you hear the composition beckoning you from across the campus, towards moments of pure peace and reflection. For more information about the iForest please visit The Wild Cen- ter's website: w w w.wildcenter.org or call 518-359 -7800. The iForest is open whenever the museum is open.

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