Introduction: Mattea Goetz
I applied for this fellowship because…
I applied to this fellowship because I was drawn to the core values and mission of the organization, mainly those around divestment from capitalistic systems and returning to a land based lifestyle. I am interested in being a part of an intentional community space focused on exploring this lifestyle and learning together/from each other. I am also interested in learning more about food systems/production/sovereignty.
Some life experiences that brought me to the point where I am are…
Oh gosh! What a big question. I am a continuation of my ancestors’ lives and decisions. It feels impossible to point to any few experiences within my own life, although who and where I am now has been apart of my psyche for a very long time, leading me to degrees in Archeology, Outdoor Experiential education, a minor in Ecology and Indigenous leadership and Sustainability with a research focus on critiquing western environmentalism and experimenting with indigenous agriculture methods. Professionally, I have focused in the world of outdoor education and Tribal Community engagement. Although my professional and academic career is only a piece of the puzzle, I engage with life in a passionate way and thus my personal , professional, and educational journeys are all completely intertwined with my loves in life, ultimately coming down to a deep appreciation and interest in decolonial and ancestral lifeways.
A driving question or point of inquiry for me is…
My driving questions in life;
– How can I be in a loving, healthy, and sustainable relationship with everyone and everything around me?
– How will you feed the world ? (metaphorically, but this time perhaps more literally!)
The thing I’d like to focus most on this summer is…
I look forward to learning more about local food systems, growing foods, earthen building, herbalism, and ethnobotany!
Some things I’d like you to know are…
I am interested in learning about mountain biking if anyone is willing to play around with that with me/teach me!