I feel a sense of duty to protect the Ojibwe land my ancestors managed for centuries before me. My mentors tell me to think ahead to the next seven generations because the earth is borrowed from them.
NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS empower Indigenous people by giving us a voice in deciding how our cultural resources are managed and how our histories are interpreted. An Ojibwe woman, I entered the field to help meet the need for more Indigenous archaeologists. Finding artifacts is exciting. This summer I uncovered a projectile point that had not been held by another human for five thousand years. The thrill of holding artifacts my ancient Indigenous ancestors expertly crafted or sitting next to the same hearth my forebears sat beside a millennia before inspires me.
Whenever I travel, I bring my running shoes. It is an efficient and potent way to experience new environments: temperature, elevation, ground, light, and surroundings are things runners must pay attention to.
Hiking or walking with a camera in hand allows me to experience land in similar ways to running, but more creatively. Shooting photos is meditative. For that short moment when I am setting up to take the picture, I am completely absorbed. Holding my breath, stabilizing my hand, and timing the shutter release brings a concentration that is often hard to find in my scatterbrained mind.
Photography is what inspired me to become a climber. I dreamt of reaching the rocky, awe-inspiring vistas I saw in climbing photographs. A semester into my PhD program in Tucson, I started climbing.
Acknowledging whose land I am recreating on reminds me, and whoever listens to me, that we are on Indian land. Because I am on Indian land, I say miigwech (“thanks”) to the land and the ancestors who managed the land for centuries before me by praying and giving tobacco as an offering. I recognize Indigenous histories that many of us were not taught in school. Before European colonization, millions of Native Americans thrived on Turtle Island—a.k.a. North America. Today, more than five hundred tribal nations are recognized by the United States. All these tribes have ties to the land we live and recreate on, whether those lands are urban centers or remote, natural spaces.
Although the land looks “wild” and untouched by humans, it’s not. Indigenous people have been swindled out of much of the land treaties were supposed to reserve for them, but we have lived here since time immemorial. Traveling around North America, it is easy to find ancient objects lying on the ground. Pottery sherds, projectile points, and stone tools are everywhere if you look closely enough.
Native America has also left behind monumental architecture. Huge irrigation canals, giant medicine wheels, enormous earthen mounds, intricate rock dwellings, and more dot Turtle Island.
I feel a sense of duty to protect the land my ancestors managed for millennia before me. My mentors tell me to think ahead to the next seven generations because the earth is borrowed from them. This worldview cultivates actions based on sustainability and reciprocity. Reciprocal relationships in which we care for everything around us, including animals, water, rocks, plants, landforms, and the cosmos, is vital to keeping the earth healthy for future generations.
ASHLEIGH THOMPSON
The outdoor industry bleeds into other sectors like tourism, retail, manufacturing, and entertainment, not to mention public service. There truly are a lot of ways to take your career outside. Whether you’re looking to stay local, open to anywhere in your country, or hoping to see the world, there’s a great fit waiting for you.
Here are some avenues to explore:
PUBLIC SERVICE The National Park Service, the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, Conservation Corps, and even the Peace Corps all provide opportunities to work in public service and spend substantial time outside in the preservation of natural beauty around the country and the world.
OUTDOOR PROGRAMS If you love to teach and lead, outings-based employment might be the right track for you. Guiding companies like National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), REI, Outward Bound, and Appalachian Mountain Club all run outdoor programming and need certified guides to lead them.
BRANDS If you have a corporate skillset, bringing it to an outdoor brand is often the easiest transition into the outdoor industry. Making the switch to an outdoor brand gets you close to the vision for an activity or market as well as the lifestyle.
MEDIA Traditional publications offer opportunities with dependable reputations, and the explosion of independent digital publishing has led to even more freelance options.
HOSPITALITY No matter where people go to recreate, they need a place to stay. Explore who’s doing sustainable hospitality in your area of choice. Certain positions even offer housing in remote areas.
SCIENCE We’re still only scratching the surface of how our endlessly intertwined and interdependent planet functions. But, with each layer we peel back, the better suited we are to intelligently conserve it and take sustainable action.
VOLUNTEERING You don’t have to make your living in the outdoor industry to be a part of it and make a difference. Seeking out volunteer opportunities can be a great way to get out, learn new skills, make new friends (with similar interests), and even travel. Keep on the lookout for job postings and open calls for a foot in the door.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP Starting your own business is another way into the outdoor industry. Don’t dismiss your idea for a better piece of gear or guiding service for your favorite single-track route. Voids in the market always exist; listen for their potential.
