In Episode 17, I visit with Harley Bastien at his Buffalo Rock Tipi Camp in the Piikani Reserve on the Old Man River in Southern Alberta. Harley is a caregiver and truth-teller, “born on the Piikani Nation and raised in the Oldman's River Valley by his parents and grandparents. From childhood, Harley was taught to live in harmony and balance with nature and the natural order of things. He was also made aware of the spiritual energies of the land and the importance of preserving and protecting these spiritual energies. One of his grandmother’s sayings is, ‘If the spirit of the land leaves all the animals, planets and people will suffer, and will no longer be’.” His father and grandfather taught Harley how to hunt, trap, fish, and work with animals on the family ranch. “His mother and grandmother taught him to harvest plants for food and medicines along with the traditional daily duties of early Blackfoot life before the arrival of the Europeans.” He was shown the various locations of the spiritual energy power spots where vision quests and other spiritual connections happen.

This conversation has stayed with me and grows every time I return to it. I updated our Welcome Statement to state both Truth and ReconciliACTION, correctly. I can now catch myself referring to nature as if it is something I own. Your humility and expectation of accountability to Mother Earth are greatly appreciated, Harley! I aim to learn more to adopt the Piikani way in my own life.

Welcome to The Gravity Well where we break down heavy ideas into small buckets anyone can handle! Our mission is simple, to work through our differences and collaborate with others through conversation and process. Together we can face our dilemmas and make the world better for all. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge we are in Blackfoot Treaty 7 territory and Metis District 15 lands. We take reconciliACTION by seeking the wisdom of elders and individuals who aim to restore water, air, land, life, and community. A healthy living relationship with our homeland and each other is our guide.

Regan Boychuk, of the Polluter Pay Federation rejoins us to speak about Alberta's laws, and how the Orphan Program is the safety net the industry designed to ensure Albertans that they will clean up when needed. To learn more about the Orphan Program and Alberta's oil and gas laws, please watch Mark Dorin and Regan Boychuk explain further here: https://youtu.be/wGS772Th3MY

Alex and Jenny take an episode to reflect upon where we are in The Gravity Well process. Throughout 2024, Alex and Jenny break down the conversations we host using the DelftX complex decision-making course we took together. Analyzing the issues in the Province of Alberta systematically, inviting people into conversation who have a crisis, and helping us, and our audience, understand the context of other problems we see.

Disabled children advocate Shantel Sherwood joins Alex and Jenny to discuss how children fall through the cracks in Alberta's education system. Shantel co-founded Hold My Hand Alberta, a volunteer-led support group for parents with disabled children. We discuss privileges and shortcomings and how the system reinforces them. Thank you, Shantel, we look forward to speaking about private schools next.

Thank you, Fridays for Future Calgary, for inviting Jenny to speak.

Mark Dorin and Colin Smith help Jenny understand the gravel pit mining impacts on local communities and the ultimate risks to downstream users. We hear from residents and advocates for the Bighill Springs near Cochrane, the South McDougal Flats near Sundre, and the Medicine Flats in Red Deer County.

Clarification: Lyze highlights that gravel companies around Bighill Springs are supposed to stop one meter before the waterline.

Colin Smith joins us again to discuss our shared concerns for the state of our watersheds and efforts to understand and advocate for solutions.

Mark McCormack of New World Spirit explains his efforts in building Ever Living Meetings. A new style of meetings intended to help us solve the poly or meta crisis through a process that offers both structure and chaos for speculative thoughts to emerge.

We learn the importance and risks to the Bighill Creek Provincial Park via gravel extraction and then, with the Polluter Pay Federation, we discuss the power system that exists within Alberta.

Jenny and Alex are joined by fellow collaborator, Janet Pennington, to listen and reflect upon Dixon Hammond's rebuilding of the Beaver Creek Watershed Community, where he was born, raised, and returned to look after. We learn about Dixon's process for building and maintaining healthy relationships. How important it is to ensure that decisions are made by those who hold the responsibility of the land and its health. He attributes his success to the success of the watershed council community, knowing he would not have the community he has built today if it weren't for the people who have taken responsibility with him. Dixon is working towards a conversation with all three levels of government to discuss water needs and sharing, we will be following, supporting, and amplifying their efforts along the way. Thank you, Dixon and the Beaver Creek Watershed Council, we cannot wait to learn more!