Rivers carry local knowledge and human interaction along their banks as they snake their way through the mountains as a sort of “path” making. The path that a river takes—much like the path that animals and humans make to access the river—are winding, curved. For the river, this path is ancient compared to the human endeavour.
Pathmaking through geographic interactions can help us understand a culture; it can inform the viewer of belief systems, economic activity, and travel patterns. The building of fence systems and barns might indicate farming as a sole source of income, a side venture for more cash flow, or a hobby. The number of churches and the roads that lead deep into the hollars can inform the type of belief systems the people hold.
“we can’t meaningfully proceed with healing, with restoration, without ‘re- story- ation.’ In other words, our relationship with land cannot heal until we hear its stories”
