Abstract
This thesis explores the efficacy of combining Indigenous culture narratives with elements of traditional Euro-American field guides to create an alternative form of birding1 field guide. The desired outcome is to create a more inclusive and well-rounded birding experience that celebrates the wisdom and worldview of the people who inhabited the New World before its European “discovery.” The intention is to approach birding from the standpoint of the past and present Caretakers of the land; the members of Indigenous communities whose ancestors lived (and still live) in harmony with the land and living creatures (including birds). It seeks to answer questions about how birding field guides—which have been predominantly shaped by early European and American white-centric views—can be reshaped through the inclusion of Indigenous cultural perspectives. Chief among these is language, for the names used by Indigenous people don’t imply ownership; they speak of partnership and stewardship. The proposed field guide reflects that relationship. In recent times, as businesses and other professional organizations have increasingly engaged in initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, there has also been a logical progression towards similar initiatives in social and recreational groups. Birding communities in particular present a rich opportunity for this sort of initiative. This is because while participation in such groups has steadily increased and diversified since the COVID-19 pandemic, the reference and educational materials commonly used for birding have
remained mostly static. The field guides in use today are derivatives of the observations and writings of early European and American naturalists and heavily influenced by narrow world views that too often equate to an offensive sense of white supremacy for Indigenous and non-European peoples. This thesis addresses the research question of reshaping the birding field guide by a) assembling texts that illustrate the perspectives of traditionally marginalized Indigenous communities, b) reaching out to Seneca Nation representatives to identify community needs and explore the process of building a cooperative collaboration, and c) conducting a critical content analysis of existing field guides. The desired outcome of this investigation is the conception of an alternative form of birding field guide which reflects cooperative relationships with both nature and Indigenous communities.
Publication Date
4-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Undergraduate
Degree Name
Museum Studies (BS)
College
College of Liberal Arts
Advisor
Juilee Decker
Advisor/Committee Member
Michael Brown
Advisor/Committee Member
Amy Kahn
Recommended Citation
Armstrong, Angelique M., "“JÍ'DË'Ö:H” MEANS BIRD: DECOLONIZING THE MODERN BIRDING EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF NARRATIVES FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OF WESTERN NEW YORK" (2024). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/12047
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
