91ÑÇÉ«

Members of the 91ÑÇÉ« community came together on June 23 for the Intergenerational Earth Café, an occasion intended to foster deep discussions about climate change among generations. The event, which was organized by the Dahdaleh Institute’s Wellness Impact Lab (co-leads Dr. Harvey Skinner and Susan Harris) in collaboration with 91ÑÇÉ« Retirees' Association (YURA), brought together community residents, faculty, staff, students, and retirees in the serene Maloca Community Garden.

The morning began with participants meeting at the Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies (HNES) building before walking together to the garden in small intergenerational groups. Once there, attendees were welcomed by Phyllis Novak-Nowakowski, chief steward of Maloca Community Garden, who invited participants to connect with the land with a guided tour.  Phyllis shared a rich history of Indigenous stewardship of the land.  During the tour WIL co-lead, Susan Harris, invited participants to select a natural object from the garden, later used in discussions to symbolize our relationship to earth and climate change impacts. This simple activity grounded the day's conversations in place, encouraging reflection on participants' personal relationships with nature and the climate crisis.

Rather than focusing solely on climate science or solutions, the Earth Café created space for listening, dialogue, and emotional connection. Participants were seated in small facilitated groups that intentionally mixed younger and older generations. Through three rounds of conversation, attendees introduced themselves, reflected on their experiences with climate change, asked one another questions across generations, and shared intentions for future action.

One participant described the atmosphere as "experimental, reflective, and connection-oriented," while another appreciated "spending quality time in a beautiful outdoor environment full of nature while having deep conversations."

The intergenerational format emerged as one of the event's greatest strengths. Participants consistently highlighted how valuable it was to hear perspectives they might not otherwise encounter in their daily lives.

One student reflected, "It's easy to only be involved in your own age bubble, neglecting the other people in the conversation." Another participant described the conversations as "very much needed," emphasizing that they provided new perspectives and encouraged meaningful dialogue between generations.

Participants who were older had similar opinions. According to one retiree, the talks were a "very rich exchange with honest and emotional connections," highlighting the significance of hearing from various generations and finding common ground despite having diverse life experiences. The encounter was described by another as "exciting, inspiring, meaningful, and enriching."

The experience was significantly shaped by the garden itself. Attendees gathered outside among natural plants and developing gardens rather than in a conventional meeting space, fostering an atmosphere that promoted introspection and camaraderie. One person expressed their appreciation for "learning on and with and from the land," while another mentioned that "the garden" was their favourite aspect of the occasion.

Participants discussed sources of hope, resiliency, and group action in addition to their worries about climate change. Many were motivated by others' openness to participate honestly and freely.

Hearing from different generations inspired hope. One student wrote that the discussions were "insightful and provided us with hope for the future and our ecological efforts." Another thought about a significant personal insight: "Our voices have power." It's still possible to make a modification.

The significance of community action was also underlined by a number of attendees. Reminders to "plant more things and raise awareness," "let's move forward and act together," and "vocalize your individual steps to cascade a domino effect for change" were among the takeaways.

The feedback served as a blueprint for Earth Cafes in the future. Participants relished the thought of longer conversations and appeared to lean towards additional opportunities for action-oriented activities, featuring discussion on climate emotions.

The Intergenerational Earth Café demonstrated that creating spaces where people of different generations can listen, learn, and reflect together can foster hope in the face of climate uncertainty. As one participant summarized, "Our efforts do matter, there are other people who are also concerned about our planet's future, and there is hope."

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