Mapping the impact of the pandemic on our lives

This activity is part of the Native and Western Views of Nature session on "The Third Alternative"

Click here for lecture

"In 1995, social ties were a lifeline for people in Chicago; the city’s Latinx population was largely spared from the effects of the heat wave, living in areas with bustling commercial life and frequented public spaces, which strengthen mutual aid responses and social support. The city is well aware of these dangers of social isolation this time around, Its coronavirus preparedness guide states:

"Being connected to people around you is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for, respond to and recover from an emergency. …Knock on your neighbors’ doors and learn about who lives around you, especially those who are elderly, live alone, have a disability or a chronic disease, are pregnant or have young children, care for older people or people with special needs, or depend on electric-powered medical equipment…Think about who needs to be on your own emergency contact list, but also think about whether you could build connections and be on a contact list for your friends and neighbors…"

Article

"...the Spanish flu epidemic caught Norwegians off guard, and to make matters worse, Rao said that the way that officials talked about the disease turned people against each other, making them suspicious of their friends and neighbors. “Spanish flu undermined the bonds of trust,” he said, and as a result, people didn’t readily cooperate in the recovery. Norms, values, and social structures were suddenly overturned, creating what Rao calls a “cultural pandemic.”

Kate Yoder: Here’s what you really need to get through a disaster

"Many people believe that we have come to a turning point in our relationship with the natural world. We need to halt deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats around the globe. We need to make use of existing nature-friendly, organic alternatives, and develop new ones, to feed ourselves and to maintain our health. We need to eliminate poverty so that people can find alternative ways to make a living other than by hunting and selling wild animals and destroying the environment. We need to assure that local people, whose lives directly depend on and are impacted by the health of the environment, own and drive good conservation decisions in their own communities as they work to improve their lives. Finally, we need to connect our brains with our hearts and appropriately use our indigenous knowledge, science and innovative technologies to make wiser decisions about people, animals and our shared environment."

"My hope is that an understanding of how the world should be, along with the realization that it is our disrespect of the natural world that has led to the current pandemic, will encourage businesses and governments to put more resources into developing clean, renewable energy, alleviate poverty and help people find alternative ways of making a living that do not involve the exploitation of nature and animals."

Jane Goodall: COVID-19 Is a Product of Our Unhealthy Relationship With Animals and the Environment

For this activity we will build a single Google Presentation with a different slide for each student.

The slide presentation has been shared with everyone, so you will be able to see each other's work. Please be respectful and do not delete anyone else's work. 

We will use this presentation to reflect on how our worldviews can help us understand the current situation. Think about what has happened over the past several months, and how your relationship to the community of humans and nonhumans to which you belong have changed for the better or worse. How can our relationships to the natural world and to each other make it more or less likely that we will recover from the current pandemic, and importantly, whether we will repeat our mistakes in the future?

1. Go to the shared slide presentation and find the slide that has your name in the speaker notes (they are alphabetical).

2. You can add one or more slides by clicking on the + symbol in the upper left corner of the toolbar.

3. This is a shared slide presentation so please be respectful of other people’s work (this includes being careful not to change anyone else’s theme).

4. Focus on developing advice for your future self - what did you learn this semester that is helping you cope? How can you avoid a "cultural pandemic"? How will this help you become more resilient in the future during difficult times?

Forget the TP: Here’s what you really need to get through a disaster

Jane Goodall: COVID-19 Is a Product of Our Unhealthy Relationship With Animals and the Environment

Preparing for Hurricane Florence? Think About Your Neighbors

What COVID-19 and the Chicago Heat Wave of 1995 Have in Common

COVID-19 | Anishinaabe Pandemic Prophecies

For this activity we will build a single map with a different layer for each student.

The map has been shared with everyone, so you will be able to see each other's work. Please be respectful and do not delete anyone else's work. Make sure that all of your work is in your layer (you can drag and drop anything that winds up in the wrong layer).

We will use this map to tell the story of the past two months, when our lives have been radically changed because of the need for social distancing during the pandemic. Think about what has happened and how you have felt during the months of March and April, and how you are currently relating to the world.

Revisit the map you made at the beginning of the semester (using Google Earth Web). In that activity we asked you to create a map that told the story of your important places; in today's activity we will ask you to think about those places and how you now can or cannot visit them physically; do you still visit them in your mind? What new places have become important to you? 

Below is a list of prompts that was modified from our first activity; use this as a starting point for your map. Write about your perceptions and feelings in the map icons so that they become a type of spatial diary of your recent experiences. You can also add to this list and map locations that are important to you right now but aren't covered by the prompts.

When we have finished our layers, you will virtually visit the student whose layer is above and below yours. Leave a place mark for them with a note that engages the material in their layer.

1. Sign into your Google account.

2. You got an email from Dr. Pierotti with the map link - contact him if you need it again.

3. Make sure you are in edit mode (you will need to be signed in to your Google account). If you do not see the editing tools you may need to sign into the map.

What factors go into shaping an individual worldview? 

First is family and local culture

• Without posting any addresses or personal information, map the city or town where you are sheltering in place; where are your family and friends? Who are you staying in touch with physically (sheltering together) or virtually? Think about how you feel about "place" when your connection is virtual; do you feel like you are actually there when you are "visiting" virtually? If you are prevented from physically visiting the places that are most important to you does this diminish your emotional or spiritual connections?

• Are you able to stay connected to the place in the world you identify with in terms of identity? Is this a source of strength for you, joy, or sorrow?

What are the nonhuman influences in your life?

• What is your favorite place in the world? Are you able to stay connected to this place, either physically, in your imagination, or virtually?

• Where is your favorite tree, body of water, place to relax, etc.? Is this something that you are currently able to think about? Do you feel connected even when you are unable to physically visit it?

• Where was your favorite place to play (or hide) when you were 5 years old? 10 years old? 15? Today? Are any of these places a source of comfort in the current situation?

• Who were the most important animals in your life? Are there currently any animals in your life? Where are they? Are they a source of companionship or comfort?

Spiritual Elements and beliefs help shape your thinking

• Where are the spots that are sacred to your beliefs located? Are these places you can currently visit? Do you think about them?

• Where are your personal sacred places? Are you able to stay connected? Are they a source of comfort?

How has the shelter in place order changed the way you organize your life?

• Are you able to go outside and experience the natural world? If so, where do you go? Is experiencing nature important right now?

• How have your feelings about your place of residence changed since you have had to stay in place for the past month? Do you feel more connected to it, or less?

• Where do you wish to go most once you can travel? Why?