Norwegian council of creatures: bats, reindeer, and a plea for shared consciousness
A room filled with reindeer, wolf lichen, and the hushed murmur of a bog bore witness to an extraordinary scene: a northern bat, addressing a council of non-human beings, issued a startling demand – a shift in consciousness, a recognition of their interconnectedness.
An unconventional gathering in oppdal, norway
The event, a recent ‘interspecies council’ held in Oppdal, Norway, was born from the pioneering work of environmentalists John Seed and Joanna Macy, who developed the ‘Council of All Beings’ in the 1980s – a practice of embodying and representing other species in ceremonial gatherings. Now, the concept is gaining traction, shaping governance models and sparking a vital debate about our relationship with the natural world.
The council itself operates on a unique principle: human representatives, chosen randomly or based on expertise, act as proxies for a diverse range of stakeholders – from flora and fauna to geological formations. Their output, whether a decision or a manifesto, is meticulously evaluated for its impact. The concept of ‘multispecies assembly’ is expanding, encompassing artistic interpretations and formal models of decision-making.
Voices from the wild – and the worrying
During the council, the bat’s impassioned plea stood out. It spoke of a fundamental need for understanding, a recognition that “we are a relation.” Representatives from the landscape – a birch tree lamenting its shrinking space, a river expressing its frustration at being diminished, a fox observing a wader – shared their concerns. The atmosphere was thick with a strange, unsettling empathy, a glimpse into the silent, complex lives of those often overlooked.
Beyond greenwashing: a quest for institutional change
But this isn’t merely a symbolic exercise. Facilitators like Vognild Blokhus are pushing for something more – ‘institutional trace’ – a tangible shift in power, integrating these interspecies perspectives into governance structures. The goal is a system where these voices aren’t just acknowledged, but actively shape policy.
As architect Katerine Chada observed after attending a Cambridge lecture by Joanna Macy, the idea of an Oppdal interspecies council seemed audacious. Initially met with skepticism, the project gained momentum due to a shared desire to find solutions beyond human-centric approaches. The council’s success hinges on translating this initial empathetic connection into effective, lasting change – moving beyond fleeting gestures towards a truly integrated governance model.
A balancing act – tourism and ecological health
Oppdal, a mountain village nestled in the heart of Norway’s Drivdalen valley, is wrestling with this challenge. While winter tourism surges, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to its ‘hytter’ (traditional cabins), the municipality is planning to expand accommodation, aiming to establish the region as a year-round destination. However, this economic push raises critical questions about the delicate balance between development and ecological preservation, a tension mirrored across the globe.
Margrete Vognild Blokhus notes that discussions are driven by a shared sense of stewardship, not conflict, but underlying tensions persist regarding land allocation – between farming, tourism, and conservation. The hope is that councils like this can help navigate these complexities, fostering a more sustainable and equitable future. The council’s deliberations could be a starting point for a new approach, one that truly considers the needs of all inhabitants, both human and non-human.