The Adirondack ExperienceADKXToday, the museum and nature campus () announced that it will present an 8-part virtual program series that examines the intersections of racial and environmental racism.environmentaljustice. TitledAdirondacks For All: Identity and &EnvironmentalJustice in the North CountryThe series will focus on the Adirondacks’ experiences of injustice and oppression, as well as the connections between those realities and issues such as preservation, pollution, access to land, water, or nature more generally.Adirondacks for allThe program is being developed in partnership and supported in part by a $50,000 grant provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The program’s development is being overseen by the Institute for Museum and Library Services.ADKXErik Reardon, a scholar and professor whose research focuses in particular onenvironmentalHistory and Native American historiesThe series will begin onMay 31, at 7:00 p.m., with a discussion betweenCurt StagerAuthor, scientist, educator and educator whose research focuses on climate change.ecoHistories of lakes and landscapesDave Fadden (Akwesasne mohawk)a writer, storyteller, artist from OnchiotaTim MessnerSUNY Potsdam archeologist. The talk, entitled Deep History and Belonging In the Adirondacks, will examine the human history of these mountains and discuss the impact of recent archeological discoveries on scientific and historical knowledge. It will also consider larger discussions about belonging, ownership, stewardship and the concept wilderness. The talk will be followed by a discussion about belonging, ownership, stewardship and the concept of wilderness itself.June 14With a program featuringAaron MairA 30-year wilderness expert.environmentalJustice pioneer and advisor to the White Houses CommissionEnvironmentalBoth the Clinton and Obama administrations have high standards for quality. Quality for both the Clinton and Obama administrations.ADKXWebsite atwww.adkx.org. The events are free for the public, but registration is required online. After visitors register, they will be provided with all the information necessary to access the virtual programs.
The Adirondacks, which were established in 1892 have been long considered one of the nation’s greatest conservation achievements. The park’s extensive network of woods, water, and high peaks has inspired generations of residents as well as visitors to seek their Forever Wild experience. It is a unique collection of residential hamlets and forest preserves. Yet, the park’s blue line conceals the sad truth that the Adirondacks are not for everyone. The challenges of climate change are also a challenge.environmentalIt is urgent to preserve and strengthen the region’s historic commitments for conservation and preservation. These converging realities make it necessary to confront the systems, structures, and people who have prevented the Adirondacks achieving the democratic ideal upon which they were founded: the free use of all citizens for their health and pleasure.
Adirondacks for allIt is the heart ofADKXHis vision was to reexamine the narratives that have shaped the Adirondacks and shed new light on the experiences from diverse communities in the area. The series also examines and challenges traditional boundaries.environmentalJustice by connecting with past and current social and racial justice movements.Adirondacks for allThis foundation is crucial for the museum’s ongoing work to bring these issues to light and to establish ongoing partnerships and opportunities to dialogue with its community. It is as followsADKXS 2020 virtual program seriesThe Black Experience in the AdirondacksThe film, “Black People in the Adirondacks”, highlighted the systemic racism Black people face in a region that is overwhelmingly white. These programs aim to promote mutual understanding and support the creation of new approaches and policies to encourage diversity in tourism as well as community development in the Adirondacks.
Aaron Mair. Photo by Cindy Schultz/Adirondack ExplorerReardon worked as the Project Director on the series with leaders from all walks of the organization.ADKXand its partner organisations as well as several project advisers to apply an extensiveenvironmentalJustice lens to the history of the Adirondacks. The group is attempting to harmonize conversations about diversity, advocacy and policy, as well as natural and human histories, to offer a holistic framework to public engagement. The series will feature speakers who will discuss critical issues such as:
- Whose stories will we tell when we celebrate the multi-generational Adirondack land/water connection?
- Who were the historical beneficiaries of conservation and preservation in the area?
- How has the Adirondacks helped diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, find meaning and inspiration?
- What are the obstacles and solutions to bringing more diversity to the Adirondacks and allowing for more experience?
Erik Reardon
Erik Reardon is anenvironmentalHistoriographer specializing in the history of fisheries conservation and dam-removal, as well as Indigenous and Euro-American relations with rivers. He earned his PhD from the University of Maine. He has also taught as a visiting assistant professor at Colby College, Bates College, and Colby College. As part of their series, the University of Massachusetts Press published his book Managing the River Commons, Fishing and New England’s Rural Economy.EnvironmentalHistories of the Northeast. He joinedADKXIn March 2022, as Project Director, to lead the development Adirondacks for all: Identity.amp;EnvironmentalJustice in the North Country
About the Upcoming Series Speakers
Curt StagerShe is a scientist and educator as well as an author whose research concerns climate change and deepening our understanding of it.ecoHistoriographies of lakes and landscapes from around the globe. His work has been published in prestigious technical journals like Science, as well as periodicals like National Geographic and The New York Times. He hosts Natural Selections, a weekly radio science program on North Country Public Radio. Stager is the author of four books including Still Waters: The Secret World of Lakes. He teaches natural sciences and holds an endowed research chair at Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York. He was named Science Professor of New York State by the Carnegie-Case Foundation in 2013.
Dave Fadden (Akwesasne mohawk)Onchiota-based artist, storyteller and writer. His subjects range from traditional Haudenosaunee teachings, to intimate and inspired portrayals community members. Fadden was recently invited by The Wild Center (Tupper Lake NY) to reimagine a living-watershed exhibit from a Haudenosaunee viewpoint. Future ventures include a partnership at John Brown Farm Historic Site (Lake Placid), NY, and a project with Akwesasne Tourist in which he will be the lead art consultant and designer for an Outdoor Community Project. His work can be seen in the Six Nations Indian Museum in Onchiota. This family-run facility was founded in 1954 by his grandparents. He continues to work to dispel stereotypes and promote accurate understandings of Mohawk culture and Haudenosaunee culture.
Tim MessnerAn Associate Professor in Archeology, State University of New York Potsdam. He moved to Kanienkehaka Mohawk territory in 2012 and became very interested in the Indigenous history the Adirondacks uplands. He has spent the past ten years exploring the Adirondacks in both recreational and academic pursuits. Messner obtained a doctorate at Temple University in 2008, and did his postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian. Before joining SUNY potsdam, he was an Adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin -Stevens Point. He is a father, a wannabe craftsman, as well as a low-level food producer.
Aaron MairA wilderness expert for over 30 years,environmentalJustice pioneer and advisor to the White Houses CommissionEnvironmentalQuality for both the Clinton administration and the Obama administration. Mair, the first African American president the Sierra Club, is well-known for his contributions to the organization.environmentaljustice.
About the Adirondack Experience
Adirondack Experience – The Museum on Blue Mountain LakeADKXAmerican Alliance of Museums (AAM) has granted a certificate to, which shares the history of the Adirondacks region through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. The museum also houses culturally rich collections in over 20 historic and contemporary buildings spread across 121 acres in the heart of Adirondacks. The museum is funded in part by donations from the general public. A portion of its operating support is made possible through the New York State Council on the Arts and the support of Governor Kathy Hochul. For more information, please call 518-352-7310 or visit www.museo.orgwww.theADKX.org.
About Adirondack Diversity Institute (ADI)
The Adirondack Diversity Initiative, (ADI), is at the intersectionenvironmentaland transformational justice. We work to make the Adirondacks a more welcoming place for residents and visitors. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is a program that focuses on building culturally conscious communities, organizations, and businesses. It also aims to increase cultural and critical awareness around systemic racism and structural oppression. We empower communities by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to take action. We also expand access to Adirondack resources that are only available to historically marginalized groups.
The Wild Center invites you to explore new ways people and nature can thrive here in the Adirondacks. The Center is located at Tupper Lake in NY. It uses science-based programs, exhibits, and experiences to open new perspectives on the nature relationship between people and nature.environmentalBest practices. The Wild Center is a 54,000-square foot facility. It features outdoor space, live animal, and its popular Wild Walk. This elevated trail crosses the Adirondack treetops. The Center is currently open Fridays through Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. The Wild Centers Youth Climate Program, a global initiative, inspires and engages young people to take action at their schools and communities. Over 100 youth climate summits have been held in nine countries using the model of the youth climate summit. Visit www.climatesummit.org to learn morewww.wildcenter.org
The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization, is dedicated to protecting the lands and water upon which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are working to combat climate change, preserving lands, waters, and oceans on an unprecedented scale, providing food, water, and making cities more sustainable. We are currently working in 76 countries, territories, with 39 directly conservation impact partners and 39 through partners. We use a collaborative approach that involves local communities and governments as well as the private sector and other partners. Visit www.seattle.org to learn more.www.nature.orgFollow @nature_press Twitter.
