“When a particular story about a group of people is told over and over again, it becomes our single story. It becomes a stereotype that although may be true for some, it is incomplete because it is not true for all.”
~ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
~ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The above quote goes on to discuss the incredible but harmful power the single story holds when told over and over. And when you stick to the assumptions or stories others have told you, you miss out on what the real story is, and that story is often the story we all need to hear.
Just as there is a balance in nature, there needs to be a balance in how we work with others, in how we go about our advocacy work. By sticking to a single story, we create a barrier of assumptions that inhibit our ability to move forward in a meaningful way.
Blanket statements that we often hear from predator advocates such as, all ranchers are wolf killers, and all grazing on public land is bad—OR, all wolf advocates/environmentalist are hypocrites, crazy, or out to destroy our way of life, does not help to move the needle forward for wolves or ranching.
We all have an individual responsibility to be sure we know the whole story so that we do not spread or encourage biases are not only un-true or half-truths, but can actually harm the cause we claim to serve.
In my early experience as a wolf advocate, I too had a single story based on what I was taught and heard—I had no reason to believe otherwise. I was part of a community I respected--like-minded people with shared values and doing great work for wildlife. And even in my early coexistence work, it was based on my single story, my agenda, my goal.
Just as there is a balance in nature, there needs to be a balance in how we work with others, in how we go about our advocacy work. By sticking to a single story, we create a barrier of assumptions that inhibit our ability to move forward in a meaningful way.
Blanket statements that we often hear from predator advocates such as, all ranchers are wolf killers, and all grazing on public land is bad—OR, all wolf advocates/environmentalist are hypocrites, crazy, or out to destroy our way of life, does not help to move the needle forward for wolves or ranching.
We all have an individual responsibility to be sure we know the whole story so that we do not spread or encourage biases are not only un-true or half-truths, but can actually harm the cause we claim to serve.
In my early experience as a wolf advocate, I too had a single story based on what I was taught and heard—I had no reason to believe otherwise. I was part of a community I respected--like-minded people with shared values and doing great work for wildlife. And even in my early coexistence work, it was based on my single story, my agenda, my goal.
I was very linear, my efforts easily measured. . . I knew only half the story, the single story.
Then I had my story turned completely upside-down due to a few livestock producers who took a risk on me, the hard core wolf advocate, and as they opened their hearts and homes and shared their story, I realized all that I was missing. . . Initially I found myself confused and a bit overwhelmed –what I was seeing, hearing, and learning didn’t match my single story, and I didn’t know what to do with this newly discovered whole story. The veil of what I had always been told, how it had always been done, was lifted– but as the light came in, new opportunity presented itself.
My early experiences on these ranches enabled me to see things from the inside out vs. what I had read or was taught by well-intentioned advocates. And, one thing I soon discovered is that science, polls, and studies often don’t translate to the realities on the ground. That without actual real-life experience working within these ranching communities, you cannot possibly measure, put on paper, or truly understand the actualities that exist. However, through sharing, and listening to understand rather than be just understood, the power within the whole story emerges.
There is nothing single or linear about wolf conservation or in ranching. The real story is dynamic and multi-dimensional, its about the real and the raw, and in the whole story there exists great hope and tangible solutions that can finally lead us to create a lasting environment for wolves, livestock and people to successfully exist on shared lands.
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And this single story goes both ways. . .Last fall while in the field a ranching couple approached, and as we introduced ourselves, they asked, “Are you one of those wolf people?” And I knew they weren’t referring to the British rock band depicted in this picture.
At first, I felt defensive and even guilty for being a “wolf” person. But, their question was based on their single story of me, and I had an opportunity to expand the conversation. My answer, “yes and no – it depends on how you define wolf people.” And thus followed a productive discussion. To move forward we must first lower the barriers of assumptions. |
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"The wolf is neither saint nor sinner, except by those that make him so."
~ Dr. David Mech
Just as the wolf is neither saint nor sinner, nor are those who are working towards wolf recovery and those who steward the working lands that wolves reside. It is neither helpful to over glorify or over vilify the wolf, or the people involved—know the story.
It's time to change the paradigm in how we look at the challenges advocacy brings—in a more comprehensive meaningful way. If we can consider and include the whole and honest story, we can begin to change the conversation. And we can be much stronger and more impactful long term.
The fact is, the landscape isn’t the same as it was 25, 50, 100 years ago and that is a reality ranchers and urban wildlife advocates must work with in. As human population increases and competition for open space by wildlife and human use increases, co-occurrence with livestock and predators is certain. The man created boundary between wild and working lands has become unsustainable, the “and” in the middle has become a battle ground with no winners. It is time to change the conversation. Its time to remove the “and” and recognize the value of the overlap between wild-working lands, to look forward instead of backwards and focus on holistic approaches to the conservation and viable ranching challenges faced.
It is time to focus on efforts that work to neutralize the polarizing debate that has hindered wolves, livestock and people to thrive on shared landscapes.
I am not suggesting that anyone to give up their values or their identity--it's about respecting people where they are at. It’s not about changing people’s minds, its about expanding our understanding of diverse perspectives and differing life experiences that brought people to where they are at.
It’s about taking the time to understand the whole story. We all may come at the challenges wolves and ranching faces from different angles and expertise—but we cannot work in a vacuum. And as stated, its not always easy- it is much easier to stay safe behind the lines we draw—but this work requires the deeper understanding-- and through the stories shared, the solutions to the on-going conflict emerge.
We all must grow and evolve as advocates in our actions in order to serve the causes we are so passionate about. And we all have incredible stories to share and they are all valid and important stories – so listen. It is time we work together instead of against each other. It is time we take actions that work to neutralize the polarizing debate surrounding sustainable ranching and wolf conservation.
If our mindset is different, then our activities will be different.
Change of mindset takes a conscious effort. Especially when it speaks to core values and is identity based. But we all have a choice and it is our choice – we can remain stuck, feed into the same old cycle or we can take a risk and choose a better path.
Cause Driven Advocacy
. There is that old rhyme that says, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”
Well, I disagree because our words can hurt. . .
Often the actions we take in defense of our cause can be quite counter-productive to the cause we serve. It’s time to think deeper about the actions we take, including the things we say. . .
For example, when wolf advocates publicly speak against ranching as a whole – making those negative blanket statements about ranchers discussed earlier, this just promotes the single story. . . this does not help wolves. The statements made are hurtful to the individuals and the ranching community as a whole, and thus, this only creates more cultural resentment towards wolves and resistance from the ranching community to working together, and understandably so.
The same goes for livestock producers who promote and shout the S(shoot) S(shovel) S(and shut up)—this does not help their cause in gaining support for ranching including market support- this only fuels the efforts to push cattle off the landscape, and encourages predator advocates to not support their product.
Thus, if you are truly cause driven—let the cause guide your actions. Ask yourself , will what you say or do actually serve the cause or harm it long-term?
Sometimes considering all the nuances in advocacy can be overwhelming, and it may often seem too much, even futile. How can one person really make a difference?
We can.
Simply do as bubbles do.
The oceans are as vast as our intent and vision for a better future. The oceans are as powerful as our ability to make a difference – but the oceans do it one bubble at a time. . . In my past work in marine education, I had the opportunity to work with the National Science Foundation on a fascinating research project on ocean bubbles and the tremendous impact they have on our climate.
The sound of crashing waves are the result of billions of bubbles popping, and these popping bubble play an important role in regulating our atmosphere and climate. Each and every individual bubble captures carbon from the atmosphere in nature’s attempt to balance and regulate our climate. However, one bubble alone can’t possibly make a difference. However, the billions and billions of bubbles together, doing what they do, make all the difference literally, in climate health and the air we breath.
If everyone could just take a breath, take the time to think about the small individual actions – and just do what bubbles do – one bubble, one action at a time. Think to yourself, is what I am saying accurate? And does it truly serve my cause? Does this action help or hurt? Does this lead to better long term outcomes or just fuel the flames of conflict? Each one of us has the power to move the needle forward in a positive direction. Each and every small decision and action will together be transformative.
It truly is up to us.
We can choose to move beyond the myths that keep us stuck. We can choose to expand our understanding
We can choose to change the narrative surrounding sustainable ranching and wolf conservation.
"Ranchers cannot make good management decisions based on myths surrounding the wolf, and environmentalists cannot make good advocacy decisions based on myths surrounding ranching."
~ Andrew Anderson, Rancher, Montana
We all have incredible stories to share and they are all valid and important stories – so listen. It is time that we are willing to take the risk, cross the field, work together instead of against each other, and discover a brighter future for wolves and the wild working lands they call home.
If everyone could just take a breath, take the time to think about the small individual actions – and just do what bubbles do – one bubble, one action at a time. Think to yourself, is what I am saying accurate? And does it truly serve my cause? Does this action help or hurt? Does this lead to better long term outcomes or just fuel the flames of conflict? Each one of us has the power to move the needle forward in a positive direction. Each and every small decision and action will together be transformative.
It truly is up to us.
We can choose to move beyond the myths that keep us stuck. We can choose to expand our understanding
We can choose to change the narrative surrounding sustainable ranching and wolf conservation.
"Ranchers cannot make good management decisions based on myths surrounding the wolf, and environmentalists cannot make good advocacy decisions based on myths surrounding ranching."
~ Andrew Anderson, Rancher, Montana
We all have incredible stories to share and they are all valid and important stories – so listen. It is time that we are willing to take the risk, cross the field, work together instead of against each other, and discover a brighter future for wolves and the wild working lands they call home.