Box 3 - Noticing the Future

Introduction (2.5 minutes)

Welcome to the part 3 of the noticing activity, this is the final part of our exploration of how there is a legacy to racism that continues to perpetuate patterns and outcomes in many facets of society. The focus of part 3 is on “noticing” the emerging future, what could be, and noticing the signs and signals of the future that may already be visible.

As a reminder, being actively anti-racist requires both external and internal awareness and reflection. Systemic racism goes deeper than the overt incidents that we see and hear about. It is encoded in the way our infrastructure, communities, and institutions have been built. We are inviting you to notice how racism may be embedded in these spaces around you that often not noticed. Being able to recognize these patterns around you, and even within yourself, is an important capacity of anti-racism. This noticing activity is intended to provide an opportunity to reflect and recognize how these patterns and outcomes are likely to be evident around you.

Another aspect of the activity is to encourage you to engage with the land and the natural world as a source of connection and energy that can be overlooked and dismissed as part of an anti-racism practice. Transforming our relationship with the natural world will offer you opportunities and insights that can be applied to transforming the systems of oppression that surround us.

Before you begin you may want to grab something to capture any reflections that come up, a smart phone will work.

Now that you have a sense of the purpose of the noticing activity, let’s begin!

Part Three - Stories of the future (9 minutes)

Welcome to part three of the noticing activity. Once again, let’s start by taking a few deep breaths. Try to clear your mind and find a feeling of relaxation.

Now that you’ve done this let’s begin our journey.

As you begin, start to consider the following questions.

What season is it? What is the temperature and how is your body reacting to it?

What senses are being activated for you? What are they perceiving?

Are there any sounds in the air who or what is making them?

We are going to focus on noticing the stories of the future, and the signs and signals of what is emerging around you. When you look around you, where can you see this place going? What might be the emerging future story? How can you tell that there is an emerging future story?

What are the signs and signals saying to you?

Have you noticed new people? What are they doing? How are they living? How is their presence changing the future of this space?

When you think about this emerging future, who might feel safe in it? Who will this future be better for? Who may not do well in this future?

What are the signs that this is the direction things are going?

What are the other signs and signals that you can see?

Are there new buildings, are there new businesses?

Are there new ways of living or working? Are there emerging values? How are they shaping the future?

What is the role of the land in this future? How can you imagine it will be impacted by what is emerging?

Will the land be better or worse in your future?

Also think about this place in relation to other places like the next neighbourhood, or maybe the next city or town, or even places in the wider world. What can you imagine the future relationship will be between these places?

How will it evolve? How might it stay the same? What will be different?

Has thinking about the future being a hopeful experience? Why or why not?

In what ways has it been challenging? What have been the thoughts and emotions that you’ve had?

When you think about what is to come, what would you like to see more of and why? What would you like to see less of and why?

How do you imagine anti-racist actions improving the community?

As we come to the end of part three of the noticing activity, where did you feel tense on this walk, what contributed to this tension? Where did you feel relaxed and what contributed to your relaxation?

As we come to the end of the noticing activity, take a moment to take some deep breaths, and think about what is sticking with you. What are you more curious about? What do you want to explore further? How does your body feel in this moment and how has it felt throughout the activity? What are some observations you have about the land and the natural world? Are there any insights that came to you from being in a relationship with the natural world?

Continue to write these observations and insights down and use them as a self curated guide for the things you want to do and learn next. Feel free to return to this activity more than once, and hopefully often and continue to explore and deepen your consciousness and your level of awareness about the spaces around you. It is through this practice that you will continually develop a capacity to notice both the past, the present, and the future of systemic racism and your role in shifting it.

Lastly, thank your body, spirit, and mind for accompanying you and continuing to support you on your journey of embodying what it means to be actively anti-racist.

Thank you and take care!