As part of the Wood River Land Trust's Connection to the Land series, Joan Jack, an Ojibway land activist, is speaking at The Nature Conservancy's office in Hailey tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
A passionate advocate for the protection of the land of her native people, Jack is a member of the Berens River First Nation of Manitoba, Canada. Her visit is being jointly sponsored by the Hailey Cultural Center, the College of Southern Idaho and Redstone Partners.
Jack will discuss her tribe's struggle to preserve their traditional lands, and her belief that the land and its resources provide an elemental connection.
Land Trust Executive Director Scott Boettger says Jack has an "ability to give voice to the emotional values" that land gives people.
"Joan understands that we must celebrate wealth in terms of the quality of people's relationships to the land, not just in the monetary value it can provide," he said.
The issues facing the Ojibway have many parallels to what the Wood River Valley faces today. For many, their direct connection to the land is often diluted by physical separation and apathy.
The interactive evening is the first in the Wood River Land Trust's "Connection to the Land" series. Participants are encouraged to share their own stories and beliefs about land.
More events and activities in the series are scheduled for later this year. Peter Forbes of the Center for Whole Communities in Vermont will be speaking May 14. In June, the annual Kids' Fishing day will be held and later in the fall the 2nd Annual Connection to the Land photo and essay contest will conclude.
The Nature Conservancy's office is located at 116 1st Ave. in Hailey. For more information on the Connection to the Land Series and on Joan Jack's talk, call WRLT at 788-3947.
Joan Jack visits the valley for a talk tonight on our connection to the land.
