CommonS Sense Episode 4: Tangled Inheritances
Aug 17, 2025
Max Liberone, a geography scientist, and Candis Callison, a journalist and professor, delve into the complexities of land ownership through Indigenous lenses. They discuss the impact of colonialism on land and resource management, advocating for collective stewardship to combat climate change. Personal stories from Indigenous communities highlight the profound significance of land, while the guests challenge traditional notions of the commons. The conversation also explores the friction in collective communication, emphasizing the need for collaboration to envision a more inclusive future.
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Rural Life Reconnects With Land
- Max Liberone describes living in a small house on three acres in Bishop's Cove and reconnecting with land through daily chores.
- He details chopping wood, hauling rocks, and living closely with animals and weather challenges.
Capital L 'Land' As A Distinct Cosmology
- Max frames 'Land' (capital L) as a cosmology including kin, stars, events, and histories beyond scientific categories.
- He contrasts this with lowercase 'land' or 'nature' that science can more easily analyze.
Commons Entangled With Colonial Violence
- Max argues the English commons concept traveled to North America and was used to dispossess Indigenous peoples through pioneering and genocide.
- He warns environmental stewardship language can inadvertently further colonial goals unless histories are acknowledged.
