• How do we restore our connection with nature? Because I think that part of the crisis that we're in, especially with the climate, stems from the fact that we've been disconnected from our relationship to nature. And so how do we restore that? How do we get back in touch with non-human beings? You know, with these trees in front of us here we're standing in High Park, and with the trees and with the waters and the lakes, whatever natural environment we're in, how do we. And how can we. And is it even possible? I guess the question could be to establish some sort of relationship which is obviously going to be different than a human relationship. And how can that connection ultimately impact the way that we choose to organize our societies and choose to live?

My conversation with composer, sound healer and performance artist Wendalyn Bartley. I first met Wende when we were both doing a master degree in composition in the 1980’s at McGill University, and I was happy to reconnect with her work that explores the human voice and it’s relation to rituals, the sacred, spirituality, ancestors and so. We went for a walk in High Park in Tkaronto on March 11, 2025. Our conversation focused on her Buried River Soundworlds project – a way to rediscover the natural waterways of Tkaronto - and I was pleased that Wende accepted my request to perform a song in relation to Grenadier Pond in High Park to conclude this episode, which I found enchanting.

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Reconnect with nature to address environmental crises
• Explore buried waterways and natural spaces to rediscover natural spaces
• Connect with ancestral spirits through meditation and sounding
• Utilize vocal improvisation to deepen your relationship with nature
• Practice simple vocal exercises to connect with trees and alter your consciousness

Story Preview

Imagine uncovering hidden rivers beneath a bustling city, then giving voice to the forgotten spirits of the land. Explore the transformative power of sound and ancestral connection with Wendalyn Bartley in Tkaronto’s High Park.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Reconnecting with Nature
01:04 Meet Wendalyn Bartley
02:01 The Evolution of Voice Work
03:35 Questioning Ownership of Nature
04:49 Buried Waterways and Ancestral Connections
06:20 The Role of Art in Nature Connection
09:14 Grounding and Ancestral Dialogues
12:18 Sounding by the Water

Featured Quotes

• How can we own the pine trees?
• I wanted to visit places in Europe, in the Mediterranean… to see if I could tap into ancestral memory using my voice (in particular, the ancient cultures in Greece, Crete and Malta)
• I feel like I’ve met the tree and the tree has met me.

Behind the Story

Wendalyn Bartley’s journey started with a curiosity about the buried waterways of Tkaronto and evolved into a profound exploration of ancestral connection through vocal improvisation. This episode highlights her Buried River SoundWorlds project and offers listeners actionable techniques for deepening their own relationship with nature. The conversation took place in High Park next to Grenadier Pond.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

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I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026