Family Environmental History
February 23, 2025 By: Jessica Kampen
I would like to preface this exercise with a statement: Unfortunately, my family does not have close relationships. I did not grow up hearing stories of my family or even knowing relatives, distant or close. This experience has taught me a lot about my extended family, and I look forward to learning more in the future.
As a child, my passion for nature was encouraged by my father; we would camp and hike with his constant reminder, “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.” However, while I was taught to respect nature, I was never taught about understanding the ecosystem or feeling spiritually connected with nature. As much as I enjoy nature, I will admit that my relationship with the environment has been lacking. I was never taught how to tend to a garden or provide for myself from the land. Food was simply for nutrition, there was no connection to where it came from or its effect on local ecosystems.
I was born in Merritt, where my family had enough space for a few fruit trees. Those trees became a constant source of entertainment for my brother and me when we were little. We knew how to work together to pick the best peaches, and I would taste-test every single one before putting them in the basket. Later, I relocated to my current town, Agassiz, as a child. My relationship with nature has kept me here for so long. Being surrounded by mountains and water helps me feel grounded. Nature has always been accessible to me; however, it has never been paired with a conversation about conservation or environmentalism. It felt like it was not something I needed to worry about as I was only one small person. Being in a small town for so long, I have seen the effects of transformation firsthand. Fields I once played in are now housing developments, and wonderful wooden parks reflecting nature have been transformed into overstimulating plastic monstrosities.
My father, Brian Dodd, was born in Vancouver in 1956. He was raised in a typical middle-class suburban neighbourhood. He was not taught how to live off the land and was instead encouraged to use his mind to explore the world around him. As the first male clerical staff member at the Vancouver Public Library, he was able to grow his love for literature. His mother, Jessie Ann Trood De Twornicka, also worked at the library and in the history department. They were both working in an environment that was man-made and promoted a colonized version of history.
However, skipping back two generations taught me about my family’s past, which had a deeper connection to the land. My grandmother, Jessie, was the daughter of Maud Marion Trood and August De Twornicki; Maud was the daughter of Amy Alice Kendrick and Edward William Hellier Trood. Amy was born in Staffordshire and Edward in Somerset; in the late 1800s, they travelled to what would become Regina in Saskatchewan and became pioneers. One document indicates that Edward had relocated to Regina in 1885, which would have made him among the early settlers in the region, along with being present for the Louis Riel trial. Amy and Edward would have been present at the beginning of the European takeover of the area. European settlers were transforming the natural environment, and as pioneers, they would have played a role in that transformation.
As a woman, I did not experience the typical gender stereotypes regarding nature. I quit Girl Guides to join Boy Scouts because I wanted to be in the dirt and not do crafts. Camping was a common activity with my dad, but I always took nature for granted. It wasn’t until more recently, when I learned more about environmental issues, that I started to see nature differently. I began to understand how fragile it is and how important it is to protect it. I still wouldn’t say I know how to “respect” it like some people with deep ecological knowledge, but I’m learning. I’m trying. I’m trying to teach my kids differently, showing them that nature is more than just a pretty backdrop. It’s something we’re a part of and need to protect.