Assessment #1 Exercise #2: Family Environmenntal History
December 28, 2025 By: Emily Tithecott
Family Environmental History:
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
When I think about my family’s environmental history, I see it as a series of shifting relationships with land, water, and work, shaped by changing economic conditions and cultural expectations. Each generation has interacted with the environment differently, not only because the landscapes themselves have changed, but because the meanings attached to nature, labour, and sustainability have shifted over time.
My grandparents grew up in a period when daily life was more directly tied to local environments and natural resources. Their experiences were shaped by a mix of rural and small-town settings, where proximity to land and water was taken for granted rather than consciously valued. Natural resources such as forests, fish, and fresh water were understood primarily in practical terms. They provided food, employment, and materials for building. These environments were already heavily shaped by European settlement and industry, yet they were still experienced as “natural” because dependence on them was immediate and unavoidable. Conservation was not usually framed as an environmental issue, but as thrift, practicality, and not wasting what was available.
My parents’ generation experienced a different relationship with the environment. They grew up during a time of industrial expansion and increasing consumer culture, alongside the early rise of environmental awareness. Their environments were more clearly human-made, with paved roads, manufactured housing, and reliance on fossil fuels becoming normal. At the same time, access to nature was framed increasingly as recreation rather than necessity. Camping, fishing, and time spent near lakes or forests were often understood as leisure activities, separate from work and daily survival.
In my family, this shift is visible in the way land has been used and valued. A family camp on the shore of Lake Superior, built and maintained over many years, reflects a strong emotional and cultural attachment to the landscape. The camp was not simply a place to visit but a long-term project shaped by labour, care, and attention to the land. Building it involved clearing trees, managing erosion, and adapting structures to the realities of weather and water. While this transformed the environment, it also created a deep sense of responsibility toward the place. The lake and surrounding forest were treated as something to be respected, even as they were altered.
My own environmental history has been shaped by growing up in a world where environmental crisis is openly discussed and impossible to ignore. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution have been constant background issues rather than emerging concerns. Unlike my grandparents, I have rarely depended directly on local natural resources for survival. Unlike my parents, I cannot separate environmental issues from everyday decision-making. The environment feels less stable and less predictable, and the future more uncertain.
The environments I have lived in have been mostly urban or suburban, shaped by infrastructure, planning decisions, and global supply chains. Nature often appears in fragmented forms such as parks, trails, or managed green spaces. These environments are clearly human-made, even when they contain native species. Exotic and invasive plants are common, and wildlife tends to be limited to species that adapt well to human presence. As a result, my relationship with the environment is often mediated through awareness, concern, and a sense of loss rather than direct dependence.
Class and gender also shape how my family and I have related to the environment. Access to land, recreational spaces, and time outdoors has been tied to economic stability. The ability to maintain a camp, travel, or prioritise environmental values assumes a level of security that not everyone has. Gender expectations have influenced who performs environmental labour, such as maintenance, caretaking, or advocacy, and whose knowledge is valued. These factors affect how environmental responsibility is distributed across generations.
Comparing generations, the most significant difference lies in intention. My grandparents interacted with their environments out of necessity. My parents balanced necessity with enjoyment and emerging awareness. My own relationship is shaped by conscious choice and ethical concern. I think more deliberately about sustainability, impact, and long-term consequences, even when my ability to act is limited by broader systems.
Looking ahead, I want my relationship with the environment to be less abstract and more grounded. I am drawn to ideas of stewardship, repair, and long-term care rather than consumption or escape. Understanding my family’s environmental history helps me see that these relationships are not fixed. They change with circumstances, values, and knowledge. Recognising this makes it easier to imagine different futures, ones that are shaped by responsibility rather than inevitability.