USU Oral History, Folklore Fieldwork Class Presents 'Re-Storying the Land'

LOGAN, Utah — The USU Oral History and Folklore Fieldwork class invites the public to join them for “Re-Storying the Land: The Dirty Work of Restoration.” The event will be at 5 p.m. April 20 in Room 101 of the Merrill-Cazier Library.

Graduate students of folklore and public history will share stories from oral histories they conducted with Utah and Idaho land conservationists about how the restoration of land can lead to healing and positive policy changes.

Climate change directly affects folklore and creates a unique challenge to its storytellers, according to interviewee Nick Bouwes.

“I think climate change is our biggest challenge,” Bouwes said. “We thought COVID was bad. That’s nothing. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to climate change. The amount of thing that we’re going to see is unbelievable.”

The oral histories recorded are part of the final phase of USU’s Climate Challenge Digital Collection. The students hope their work will inspire others to take action and get involved in the restoration efforts.

Ian peisner, another interviewee, emphasized the importance of restoring balance in the relationship between humans and the nonhuman world.

“We take so much from the rest of the world, from the nonhuman world, that that relationship is pretty messed up. And it is very imporant for all of us who are able to, and who have the opportunity, to try to yes, restore some of the balance in that relationship. Almost as a way of saying thank you for all that we take and all that we’re given.”

The oral histories produced during this course are part of the final phase of USU’s Climate Challenge Digital Collection. The collection can be viewed at https://digital.lib.usu.edu/digital/collection/p16944coll54.

The event is free and open to all interested in restoration work.