e226 roundtable - listening in relation

This is a special edition of conscient roundtable featuring Lara Felsing, Adrian Avendaño, Hildegard Westerkamp, Toni-Leah C. Yake as part of the Listening in Relation gathering at Emily Carr University of Art and Design on March 21-23, 2025 on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, also known as Vancouver. Warm thanks to Julie  Andreyev of Emily Carr University, Barbara Adler of The Only Animal, the Canadian Association for Sound Ecology (CASE), Raphael Zen (who is a guest on conscient e228), and all the roundtable participants. Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AIAction PointsExplore the role of listening in decolonizing creative practices and challenging colonial narratives.Recognize the importance of land acknowledgments as active opportunities to listen to and honor Indigenous requests.Integrate personal and ancestral knowledge into artistic processes to foster relationality with the land and more-than-human beings.Reflect on the ethical implications of technology use in art, considering environmental impact and responsible creation.Embrace silence and slow down to connect with inner wisdom and speak from the heart.Story PreviewWhat does it truly mean to listen? Dive into an exploration of decolonization through sound, art, and personal reflections. Hear from artists who are reshaping their creative practices to honor the land, ancestors, and the unseen voices that guide them.Chapter Summary00:00 Introduction to Listening in Relation02:20 Keynote Panel Overview06:48 Artistic Journeys and Ancestral Connections29:58 Dream Technology and Cultural Expression41:27 Identity, Land, and Heritage50:01 Sonic Memories and Cultural Practices57:04 Sacred Spaces and Cultural Resilience01:03:05 Reflections on Cultural Action and Belonging01:11:09 The Power of Listening and Silence01:16:10 Technology, Creativity, and Environmental Impact01:35:20 Closing Thoughts and Community EngagementFeatured QuotesLara Felsing : ‘I think about listening in my practice as being receptive to concerns that are happening on the land.’Toni Leah C. Yakes : ‘When you’re asking where you’re from, you’re actually asking: What clay are you made of? or What earth are you made of?’Hildegard Westerkamp : ‘Listening was always the base from where I functioned. Listening always brought us back to ground.’Behind the StoryThe ‘Listening in Relation’ event at Emily Carr University of Art and Design brought together artists and thinkers to explore the critical role of listening and decolonization. This episode captures the keynote panel of that event, exploring how artists are actively engaging with sound, memory, and the land to challenge colonial narratives and foster deeper connections. The discussion highlights the delicate balance between technology, creativity, and environmental responsibility, prompting a reflection on our relationship with the world around us. *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODESNote : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. Hey conscient listeners, I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share togetherIn parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.  Your feedback is always welcome at claude [at] conscient [dot] ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.Share what you like, etcI am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Thanks for listening. Claude SchryerLatest update on March 21, 2026