If you get a chance, read Brian Doyle's essay "Lost Dog Creek" in the March/April, 2004 issue of Orion Magazine.

Last night I read (and re-read) Terry Tempest Williams' "Commencement" from the same issue of Orion. I went to bed troubled and bothered. A father of four, how am I to raise my children in a nation where our leaders speak of terror and our government brokers fear? How can I encourage my children to approach this world with hope, enthusiasm, and trust?

Then, this morning, I woke to a sunny spring-like Pennsylvania morning. (It's February 29, actually. Warm February days like this really do only come around every four years in this part of the Susquehanna Valley!)

In a rare moment alone, I picked up Orion again and, for some reason, read "Lost Dog Creek" aloud to myself.

Listening to myself read -- hearing the words -- I filled with a new energy. Mr. Doyle's description of the creek -- and its connections and contributions to things far more "massive" -- reminded me that I do not need to face Tempest Williams' words and warnings alone. In sharp contrast to Tempest William's interpretation of artist Mary Frank's river of "greed" and "grief", I see Doyle's creek as our hopes and our freedom.

Through the courageous acts of individuals like Ms. Tempest Williams and all of us who are willing to stand and be heard -- we can and will reclaim and reconstruct our democracy. Our children will once again run and play in its open spaces. Our creeks and lakes will fill oceans. And our leaders will be forced to listen.

As if they had washed down Doyle's creek itself, my fears and worries of last night have swiftly passed.

At least for now.

So, to the Orion staff -- those who had the wisdom and vision to put these two pieces of writing in the same issue -- I thank you. And, ultimately, my children thank you. And, as always, we look forward to the next issue, whatever it might be.
Bill Diskin
York, Pennsylvania
717-764-0942
bill@billdiskin.com

Building a bridge of words is love is a dance from Terry. May we all send her our bridges for strength, firey warmth, and breath. A gift is in the exchange. Shouting our great delights. -Patricia Bulitt, dancer

Dear Coyote Clan and Friends, If you have not done so already, you must read very moving, powerful "The Open Space of Democracy," TTW's University of Utah 2003 Commencement Address, that can be found on the Home Page of this web site and which you can click on nd read. First of all, give the University of Utah lots credit for extending the invitation for her to speak but the rest goes to TTW for rising to the occasion in her usual bold, direct style, and telling graduates what they really need to hear, given the times we live in when some of the values of our nation are under direct threat from our own political leaders. I e-mailed a copy to my daughter, who is a freshman majoring in environmental studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington, and for whom TTW has already been a mentor through her writings, because I felt she should not wait for graduation to be told these things. If you have sons or daughters in college you should seriously thinking about sending this to them. This is by far the single greatest commencement address I have encountered in my lifetime, and maybe a rival to the likes of Emerson's "The American Scholar" and other fine statements in American letters. What makes it great is its occasion and how it rises to that occasion, because we live in a time when our land and our liberty are actually threatened by our own leaders--and to be sure by terrorists- -and by our fellow citizens who have bought into the mean- spirtedness disseminated by talk radio and Fox News (which is under Roger Ailes of willie Horton infamy). TTW speaks excellently to what is required of us and especially our youg. So e-mail it to your young, to friends nd fellow concerned citizens. With this kind of statement, TTW is taking it upon herself, whether she wants to or not, to be a leader in a nation without leaders.

Help! I love Terri's writing and am trying to collect most of it. In June I ordered back issues of Northern Lights magazine. They were (supposedly) sent to me Friday, July 25, but I haven't received them. Now I can't get a response from Northern Lights by email and the phone # is disconnected. Does anyone know someone who worked at Northern Lights, so that I could get them to trace the package? Or . . . does anyone out there have back issues of Northern Lights with which they are willing to part? I could only pay shipping, since I am already out the $100 for the back issues. Please help if you can! Thanks, Ann

While Terry was here in Lawrence as writer in residence at Haskell Indian Nation's University she mentioned several times in her public readings and in private that there are strong parallels between the Legacy Parkway project in Utah and the South Lawrence Trafficway, which would pave over wetlands that many Native Americans associated with Haskell consider sacred. There is a beautiful painting of these wetlands by Lisa J. Grossman that has been turned into a poster. It contains a wonderful quote from Terry's book RED. I have included a link to a column I wrote for our local paper about Terry and the trafficway. I hope some of you will take the time to write a letter to the Journal- World to let them know there are people beyond our city limits who are concerned about what would be lost if this highway is routed through this sacred place. Mike Caron.

Chantel, I too am a Mormon woman. The advice Kaarsten gave you is true--Terry's autobiographical writing isn't a missionary tract, and from her own perspective it doesn't need to endorse the church. Neither do you need to feel defensive on behalf of the church. Please know that women in the church did give blessings to one another, their children and families from the establishment of the church until the appointment of Joseph F. Smith--50 years. So there is a precedent in the church for women anointing and blessing outside the temple. See the essay, "A Gift Given, A Gift Taken: Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick among Mormon Women" by Linda K. Newell in The New Mormon History. It clearly documents the orthodox history of women's priesthood rites. The question I find myself asking is not "why is Terry performing a heterdox act?" but "why aren't Mormon women still officially authorized to invoke God's blessings on their families?" And I know from personal experience that in private Mormon women still quietly bless their loved ones with the laying on of hands. So the poignant moments Terry shares about blessing her mother is not unique; it certainly is beautiful.

Thank you for this website - I can never get enough of Terry Tempest Williams' writing! I am curious, I know she draws on deep spiritual roots and attends conferences for women writers on spirituality - would she have some source texts other than the obvious Mormon sources? or could someone in the Clan refer me? (not to general spirituality and nature books - I can find those myself, but ones particularly relevant to Ms. Williams' work)

my comments are for chantel. a few thoughts...first, there are occasions when women did have the authority to act on behalf of the priesthood authority. there are times when women have healed through their husbands power. terry didn't make that up. however, the book is essentially one women's experience as a mormon -- her being an 'orthodox' mormon is not the lense through which she tells her story. however, that is irrelevant too. she tells it as a woman who has experienced the spiritual, cultural, and social systems of mormonism in utah. however, her depiction of her experience is not one of mormon authority. your class is probably over, but i would suggest that you encourage your class members to separate terry's experience from "mormon" experience. i might add, there is NO universal "mormon experience" - it's niave to think so. she is telling a story through her eyes...she is not writing church history as a historian. i know it's hard sometimes when you feel like you are 'defending' the church, but the best thing you can do is let the book be a story about a mormon woman and try to disassociate yourself from the gospel principles she mentions through her narrative. no one person can be an archetypical representative of any belief system, and it's unrealistic of any one person or a group of people to expect that one story written in the voice of a mormon woman will reflect completely and objectively something like 'religion' that is so personal. i hope this helps.

you are quite impressive. i enjoyed reading everything. i wish you continued success in all endeavors. peace.

I am in a state of confusion at the moment not knowing what to do about the situation I have been presented with because of Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place. We are currently reading this novel in my English 170 class and we have been dicussing different motifs and such. I am LDS myself and so I did find the book enjoyable until every ounce of information that was presented in the book about mormonism was explored in class. I have found many false facts about the religion in this book and I have been spending more time trying to explain to my class about how things in the book aren't true than getting to actually enjoy the literature. I guess I am just curious as to why such things were put in this book if they aren't true, nor ever have been. Such as women performing the Laying on of hands and blessing other women. We don't do that, nor do we have the power to. I could be taking things wrong in the book but then so is my entire class and they are all convinced that Mormon women are oppressed and need saving. I know this to be false and so my biggest question is why things were put in that are false. Since I have no way of speaking to Ms. Tempest in person I am asking her readers. maybe I am missing something, but if so I could use some help in understanding how to present the truth.

Congrats to you, Ms. Tempest, on your many achievments including the upcoming honor at the U in May 2003. Most sincerely, JOY!

Terry spoke at the University of Oregon tonight, and I was fortunate to be in the audience. We were held spellbound by her stories, her genuine humility, by the cadence of her voice, but mainly by her desire to tell the truth. I will take the memory of her talk with me as I sort through the array of untruths our government is pressing on us. And when I feel hopeless, I will remember her words about community and know that those of us who love peace, those who protect the land, and those of us who cherish truth above comfort will find a way to be heard. She's given me hope, a very welcome gift in difficult times.

I first met Terry when she was a young, newly married, ardent about life, woman. From those small initial gatherings over the years I have witnessed and followed her personal growth and work with awe, admiration and love. Recently reading that she was to be awarded a Doctorate in Humanities from the University of Utah, I thought how much I would love to congratulate my old friend. Congratulations Terry and thank you. Claire

I just want to add some thoughts to this here community website. To share my deepest thougts, and hopes, prompted and inspired by my reading of TTW (and of course many others, including other authors and those who contribute to this website). Before I do, I want to say one thing that I hope is helpful: I keep seeing community comments asking for addresses and e-mails for TTW. Click on "Contacts" on this website and you will be able to reach TTW through her literary agent or her literary assistant, who, I am very confident, will pass along your inquiries, good wishes, etc., and help you in every way that they can, given that I am sure TTW receives an huge amount of correspondence and communication. I am gratified to find people like you for whom TTW's writing and voice are meaningful. I hope we can make her voice our own, in our own ways, and speak out and, just as important, speak to one another and give each of us en- courage-ment in these times of impending war, bad government, and environmental destruction, so that we can continually stand for an ethic of love and care for people-- and the Earth, which, as Ed Abbey rightly says, is our one true home, and through which our lives have been given and are sustained. I know you are all mindful of the Earth's wild beauty, through which we gain spiritual sustenance, not to mention physical challenge (for those who venture out into the wilderness, even if only for a day), so I anticipate no disagreement here. What I want to add is this: Personally, I believe that the spiritual life is at once practical. To say that spiritual value is not practical, as the hard-headed realists (like Dick Cheney) would like us to believe, is rubbish. Spiritual value is the most practical value of all, because, for example, while we cannot escape using the Earth and its resources, if we approach this use with gratitude and awe at the beauty and wonder of this Earth, we will use these resources sustainably and well (as Wendell Berry has said), rather than destructively as we now are doing because we have divorced spiritual value, from everyday practical reality. To me, sitting out all day and simply watching the river go by up in the Montana wilderness (I do this from time to time) is as practical as putting in a good productive day on the job--I see no disconnect. Listening to the music of mountain water gives me respite, restores my soul, gives me reason for gratitude at being given life at all on this tough, resilient,lovely planet-home, strengthens my resolve, and renews me for a life full of difficulty. Now I apologize for my editorializing and exhortations and hope you do not take offense. I don't mean to sound like a jerk, I only mean to encourage us all to really become a community (and practice the community ethic, which is an ethic of mutual help, care, and cooperation, even if we do not alwyas get along), and speak to one another, to share, and speak about what is on our minds, and speak from the heart. This is a great website, a real opportunity. We are a clan, after all, the Coyote clan no less, even if, taken as individuals, each one of us, sitting isolated at our respective computer screens, do sometimes feel alone in the world, especially one overwhelmed by evil and violence, greed and exploitation. What we sometimes fail to see is that this is also a world that could be just as easily overwhelmed by good. So, by golly I am proud to join God's dogs in a Howl-alleluia chorus, and insist upon the world's goodness that is out there in great abundance, but is ignored by the media (not to mention our own despairing thoughts). So let us tell our story, and carry on--even if it seems a "losing" argument in the era of Bush and bin Laden. As Wendell Berry says, "Just because an argument is 'losing' does not mean it should not be made." That is one sentiment TTW practices by making her voice heard. I think if the Coyote clan joins their voices with hers, we can make a difference. Despite all seeming evidence to the contrary, TTW's is a winning argument, because it speaks for life itself, and for the values that sustain life--such as love, justice, compassion, community, understanding, nurture, and care; whereas evil despite, its seemingly overwhelming power, is doomed by its very existence. Evil (which I personally believe is real)is self-cannibalizing, it is impossible for it to win. I bet there are days when even TTW feels alone, and wonders, "Why bother?" Well, she is NOT alone, none of us are, we are all out there and in this together. We need to talk to one another, go out into our communities and work places and recruit some more coyotes. We may find there are more of us than we think--then even bin Laden will have no more place to hide. Howl-allelulia!!!!!! Carl D. Esbjornson Bozeman, MT

I'm looking for an e-mail address for Terry Tempest Williams, in order to ask her if she would consider peer- reviewing a manuscript for Environmental Practice, the journal of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (John H. Perkins, Editor-in-Chief). The manuscript contains a fair amount of poetry. Any help on the e-mail address would be very much appreciated - thanks.

Snowberry Honey from Oregon, OSU, Corvallis - Fall 1995 Thank you Ms. Williams for your hauntingly beautiful voice and writing. To where may a letter be addressed so you eventually receive it?

I had the opportunity to hear Terry Tempest Williams speak last night at Dartmouth College. Her speech, "Memoirs of an Environmentalist", was personal, emotional and extremely brave. So, Ms. Williams, if you are reading this, I wanted to thank you for sharing your time and for giving all of hope. As an environmentalist and a Utahn myself, you truly are an inspiration. Thank you!

I share Ms. Williams' question/concern at the top of this community website: why are we failing to care for and speak for the natural world (and for each other, especially since we are a part of the natural world and its being penetrates our own)? Terrorism, war, injustice, environmental destruction are clear evils and it is a simple matter to despair, give up, fell overwhelmed. But if I read Ms. Williams correctly and get to the heart of what I believe she is saying in her writings, we cannot rid the world of evil, but we can fight evil with good, each of us, by using what gifts and talents we have, in small or big ways(for example, Rachel Carson, who used her gifts as a writer and scientist to speak for the Earth). We can do this by being by points of resistance, by rebuilding our world one brick, one vote, one restored ecostysem, one wildlfife and wilderness preserve at a time, and by daily acts of kindness, love, compassion, generosity, and forgiveness. Or if you do not believe in the concepts of good and evil, you can still believe in constructive and willfully destructive acts. We are called to resist destructive acts by acting contructively in life affirming ways. Why am I writing this? Why should you care? Well, one irony I find is that President Bush and Osama bin Laden share a common goal: to rid the world of evil. Strange, then, how these two supposed allies in this great cause are sworn enemies. Each one says in their own way, if you are not for us, you are against us. Their most ardent followers insist they are both men of great faith, instruments of God's (Allah's) will on Earth. And they both propose violent, destructive means to this end. Alternatively, I think we can love our country, or resist evil (that is, willfully destructive acts--for example, a tornado is not evil but a terrorist attack or carpet bombing is), by other means, by loving and caring for one another and the Earth--even if this seems a hopelessly idealistic and "losing" argument. But the beauty of "evil" is that it cannot ultimately prevail because it is doomed by its own existence. And as author Wendell Berry says, "Just because an argument is 'losing' does not mean it should not be made." As for me, I will choose the "losing" argument; each one of us can, as tiny or even large points of resistance, rebuild our world little by little, building bridges in our communities, reconnecting with the land (one of the cultural failures of our time is how people connected with the land, such as farmers, have become ardent enemies of conservation). We can do this out of sight of the media and corporate sponsored government. Fortunately, we have Terry who has become a strong, quiet but passionate voice, who is read and heard by many, many people. She is a large point of resistance. But she cannot stand alone, we cannot rely on her. We do need to respond to this. We do need to make it worth her while to speak for us and to us. I will close with another one of her questions: "How can we not respond?"

I'm writing a book on Highway 12 and I'm trying to find the article/interview in which Terry mentions Del LeFevre, a rancher in Boulder. Can anyone give me some info.?

I just finished reading "Red". Thank you, Ms. Williams, for writing this book. I have been living in the midwest for my entire life. In Illinois we only have scattered minute fragments of what could be called the "old natural world". What remains, for the most part, is guarded pretty jealously. Illinois is blessed with some wonderful soils - enough to feed a planet - so they were put to the plow over a century ago. Utah has decidedly different terrain, but humans exert pressure all the same, don't they? PLEASE set aside all you can, as soon as you can. Illinois, the "Prairie State", has less than 1/100th of 1% of actual prairie remaining. It doesn't go on forever, but I'll bet the settlers in the 18th century thought it did! In these times it is easy to get discouraged about the reality of these matters - seemingly out of our control. And then a book like Red comes around, and shows a hopeful path. My sister is moving to New Mexico soon, and I turned her on to this book. I have a hunch she will love it, too! Anyway, when tomorrow morning comes here in Chicago, several volunteers will meet in a small nearby local woodland to continue clearing the exotic brush that has choked our forests unchecked for decades. It will be as cold as can be, but I'm sure the coffee and the merrily burning piles of cleared trash will boost our spirits! Thanks for the book...I'll be thinking and talking about it for a long time to come!

Is there anyway to find out Terry's schedule for various public talks or readings?

I'm fairly sure Barbara DeLosa is in Colorado at this time, with her kids. Wish I could tell you more, but I hope this helps you find her.

Looking for contact number for Terry Tempest Williams to invite her to be a guest at December 2002 MFA residency at Antioch University. Can anyone help? Thanks! Carol Potter

I am trying to find address information so that we can send a letter of invitation to Terry for next fall's Greening of the Campus here at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. Thank you for any help that you can give me.

When I was a student at UC Davis a few years ago, Ms. Williams spoke to a gathering of students at the invitation of my literature teacher, Dr. Jack Hicks. Overwhelmed with the messages in Refuge and her other works, I leapt at the chance to hear this author in person. The big day arrived, and I wore my best, most colorful shirt in Ms. Williams' honor. Crimson and gold and shining green seemed called for. Probably thirty of us were crammed into a small classroom, hanging on each of her electric words. Unfortunately, the hour passed much too soon, and as three o'clock approached I knew I'd have to leave to go to a scheduled examination at that hour. Ms. Williams had just made a joking reference about hunters in some capacity, and another young man and I unwisely chose that moment to head for the door to get to our next class. Terry fastened her far-seeing, piercing eyes on me, and with a little laugh of delight, said "Well, there go the hunters!" I had to laugh too, but I want Ms. Williams to know that it was my mistake to have allowed a silly something like an exam to get in the way. A true Coyote would have taken a zero on the exam, and stayed and listened to a little more of the magic. I'm still a Coyote pup...forgive me? Thank you for your great effort, Ms. Williams -- for Refuge and for Red and for the blood and blessing of every last word you write.

Terry Tempest Williams made what I call a pilgrimmage to New England last week to speak with my class in American nature writing at the University of Massachusetts, lecture at Amherst College, and also take time to autograph books. I don't know if you'll read this Terry, but I'd like to let you know that it was quite an unforgettable experience. I have begun a literary project in the past week. It is being shaped as an anthology of essays concerning the intrinsic causal (and conflict-breeding) relationship between human nature and the nature we call wilderness. They also deal with mindfulness and 'small detail' observation. I am dedicating these to you, in light of not only your visit, but your thought-provoking words and kind constitution. Thank you again. I pray for your efforts in Utah to be continually successful.

SEED Open University is sponsoring a Conference entitled "GLobal Ecology: A Multi-Cultural Approach." The conference takes place May 24-26 in Albuquerque NM at the SEED campus 1700 Atrisco Dr NW. SEED is inviting Terry Tempest Williams to this conference. Please see www.seedopenu.org for details. Confirmed participants include Leroy Little Bear, Joseph Rael, Leon Secatero, Rabbi Gershon Winkler, Frances Harwood, Jesse Wolf Hardin, Merida Blanco, Gail Thomas, Nancy Maryboy. Also invited are David Abram and Robert Sardello. To phone, call Toll-free 1- 888- 818-7333.

Trying to track down Barbara DeLosa, forgive the intrustion, but this may find her here. Barbara, please get in touch. Book deal close at hand, and your input is needed. Now back to your regularly scheduled programme Peter

Its a pleasure to see a site designated to T.T.W. She has given much and needs to be recocognized for the talent and force she is. But while I can appreciate her need at home, she is sorely needed in Canada and would be received with warmth. I know my family would welcome her and her family to Nova Scotia for the joy of the Shelburne heritage river, ,what little remains of the old growth Acadian Forest and the massive erratics of the Tobeatic glacial plain. Come north Terry! Ron, Chris and Forest

When I first read the Coyote Clan passage I wept for joy. Even today, I still do. At last, I have found a way to express how the landscape of the Colorado Plateau has so deeply affected me. Terry's work gives me a place to celebrate a wilderness that has changed my life, a tranquil destination to call my spiritual home. Thank you Terry and Brooke, your talents have made all the difference.

Welcome to the Coyote Clan website. I hope you will find much to inspire you here. As the webmaster of this site, I have learned a lot, and continue to learn about our world, finding resources and information, community groups that compel my participation, writing about the natural world that transports me again to the places that I love. Please feel free to add your stories. Also, I have noticed, sometimes our tails are not completely tucked...

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