Gateways & Gatekeepers: An Interactive Exploration of Contested Socioecological Landscapes

Session Submission Type: Alternative Session

Abstract

Understanding the environmental histories of exclusionary landscapes using the multifaceted metaphors of gates, gateways, and gatekeeping provides a powerful framework to highlight the complexities of natural and cultural histories of settler-colonialism, federal development projects, and public land policies. Whether maroons developing ecological knowledge in the Great Dismal Swamp while enslavers extracted its resources (1730-1865) or Blacks reimagining the gatekeeping Civilian Conservation Corps as a gateway to challenge systemic injustices (1933-1942), socioecological landscapes have simultaneously supported and denied access to freedom, knowledge, and justice. Unsurprisingly, public lands have often been arenas of diametrically opposed visions for land use. African Americans navigated pre-designated National Forests as gateways to freedom while conversely being excluded from National Forests until the Civil Rights Movement (1870-1960s). Concurrently, park proximal gateway communities influenced access to parks and park-related professions through policy decisions and economic priorities (1872-Present). Thus, we seek to elevate marginalized voices and hidden narratives about contested environments.

To capitalize on best practices in science communication, interdisciplinarity, the value of professionals speaking from varied perspectives at different stages of their academic careers, this session will also include an interactive exercise that uses “gates” as a research and pedagogical tool to understand the role of exclusion in environmental history and its connection to present-day environmental justice issues.

Chair:
Dr. Ramya Swayamprakash, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Grand Valley State University

Presenters:
Caleb S. Ireland, Post-Bacc Research Associate, Environmental Studies Program, Bates College
Kaycie Haller, PhD Candidate, History Department, University of Albany
Jasmine K. Brown, PhD Student, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University
Dr. Qwynne Lackey, Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies, SUNY Cortland

Sub Unit

• ASEH Annual Conference

Participants

• Caleb S. Ireland, Bates College

• Kaycie Haller, University of Albany

• Jasmine Kiara Brown, Michigan State University

• Nancy Qwynne Lackey, SUNY Cortland

Moderator

• Ramya Swayamprakash, Grand Valley State University