Week 5
This week I found myself lost in the words of Ailton Krenak. In his book ‘Ancestral Future’ (2022), Krenak speaks about the need to reconnect with the land through listening to and adapting the wisdom of our indigenous ancestors. He writes:
‘Some people find it natural to consider a river sacred as long as it’s in India…even as they dare to plunder the body of the river next to them whose name they don’t know, to cool industrial cycles and commit other absurdities’. (Krenak, 2022)
I relished in this sentiment, with William Cronon’s 1996 essay ‘The Trouble with the Wilderness’ springing to mind. Cronon critiques the way in which society distances itself from the natural world through employing the concept of ‘wilderness’. The label of wilderness separates us from nature – which we are inextricably linked to – as ‘wilderness is the place where, symbolically at least, we try to withhold our power to dominate’ (Cronon, 1996). Labelling aesthetically pleasing areas of natural world as ‘wilderness’ can reinforce environmentally irresponsible behaviour, leading to us disregard the nature on our doorstep.
The Ash is a tree commonly found in Ireland, with its strong wood being used for the creation of Hurleys. It is a functional tree, with no major significance or value placed on it today. However, the Ash is being killed off by a fungal disease commonly known as Ash Dieback. It is estimated that in the next two decades that almost 90% of Ash trees will be wiped out.
In ancient Irish mythology the Ash was once held in high regard. It was seen as a guardian tree, a protector. Out of the five scared trees in Irish Folklore, the Ash accounted for three of them, all situated in the heart of the Country. However, our native tree which was also once associated with Queen Meadhbh, the goddess of Fertility and Sovereignty has lost its indigenous meaning and value. The protector is no longer being protected as the Ash falls victim to a fatal disease right before our eyes.
