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This project explores how N.K. Jemisin, Tommy Pico, and Mary Oliver critique colonial systems and redefine environmental ethics. Jemisin’s “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” envisions a society resisting harmful ideologies by fostering justice and community. Pico’s Nature Poem dismantles the colonial romanticization of nature, and strongly suggests that Indigenous identities be acknowledged in environmental ethics. Oliver’s “When I Am Among the Trees” celebrates the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world, urging humility and care. Together, these authors challenge dominant environmental narratives by bringing light to marginalized perspectives and emphasizing how intertwined cultural practices and ecological preservation are in ethical practices.

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Resistance in Jemisin's "The Ones Who Stay and Fight"

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Resistance in Jemisin's "The Ones Who Stay and Fight"

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In “The Ones Who Stay and Fight,” Jemisin presents Um-Helat as a utopia resisting colonial ideologies. She writes, “Now you might finally be able to envision a world where people have learned to love, as they learned in our world to hate” (Jemisin 12). This comparison highlights the active work required to maintain justice. The story critiques oppressive systems by imagining a world where harmful ideas are eradicated to protect community harmony. Jemisin parallels real-world efforts to decolonize environmentalism, rejecting draining systems in favor of responsible management of resources. Her narrative challenges readers to reflect on their complicity in systemic inequality and inspires visions of ethical relationships that prioritize justice for people and the environment.

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Tommy Pico’s Nature Poem critiques the colonial romanticization of nature. He writes, “Thank god for colonialist plundering, right?... Kumeyaay burial urns dug from context, their ashes dumped and placed on display at the Museum of Man” (Pico 6). This statement reveals the violence embedded in environmental narratives that erase Indigenous people while commodifying landscapes. Indigenous artifacts were put on display while their land was viciously taken up by colonists. Pico resists these narratives by refusing to write a traditional nature poem, instead presenting fragmented verses that highlight identity and displacement. His irreverent tone critiques environmental ideals that prioritize aesthetics over cultural survival. By centering Indigenous perspectives, Pico challenges readers to reevaluate environmental ethics and advocates for frameworks that address historical and ongoing colonial violence.

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Resistance in Oliver's "When I Am Among the Trees"

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Resistance in Oliver's "When I Am Among the Trees"

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Mary Oliver’s “When I Am Among the Trees” highlights resistance through reverence for nature. She writes, “I would almost say that they save me, and daily” (Oliver Line 5). Oliver rejects the hierarchical mindset separating humans from the environment, portraying trees as moral guides that provide solace and wisdom. Her poem resists the exploitative mindset behind environmental harm by celebrating the natural world’s intrinsic value. Oliver’s work emphasizes the need for humility and mutual respect in human-nature relationships. By centering the restorative power of nature, she offers a vision of resistance rooted in interconnectedness and care rather than domination or exploitation.

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Jemisin’s “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” demonstrates ecological ethics tied to justice. She writes, “The management of soil and water and chemistry are intricate arts, as you know, but here they have been perfected. Here in Um-Helat there is no hunger” (Jemisin 2). Um-Helat exemplifies Aldo Leopold’s concept of a “land ethic,” treating humans and the environment as interconnected. By critiquing systems that exploit both, Jemisin offers a vision of collective accountability where ecological care depends on equity. The utopia models a rejection of destructive practices, replacing them with a commitment to sustainability. Jemisin invites readers to imagine futures where social justice and ecological ethics intersect, demonstrating that lasting environmental solutions require addressing systemic inequalities.

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Pico’s Nature Poem critiques ethics that exclude Indigenous voices. He writes, “I can’t write a nature poem / bc it's fodder for the noble savage / narrative” (Pico Lines 1-3). Here, Pico critiques colonial narratives that idolize and beautify nature while erasing Indigenous people. His fragmented style mirrors the fractured relationship caused by colonial histories, demanding new frameworks that prioritize cultural and ecological survival. Pico’s rejection of traditional environmental ideals highlights the violence inherent in these narratives and advocates for ethical approaches that honor Indigenous perspectives. By reclaiming agency over environmental storytelling, Pico emphasizes the importance of connecting cultural practices such as literacy to ecological responsibility.

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Oliver’s “When I Am Among the Trees” highlights ecological ethics rooted in gratitude. She writes, “Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out / ‘Stay awhile’ / ” (Oliver Lines 11-12). This line exemplifies Oliver’s view of nature as a teacher and nurturer, emphasizing reciprocal care over exploitation. Her work challenges anthropocentric frameworks by presenting the natural world as an equal partner rather than a resource. Oliver celebrates the intrinsic value of nature, urging readers to embrace humility and interconnectedness. Her poem reflects an ethic of care that respects the wisdom of the environment, advocating for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

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Jemisin employs allegory in “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” to critique colonial ideologies. She writes, “We are remarkably primitive, compared to Um-Helat. Time flows the same in both worlds, but people there have not wasted themselves on crushing one another into submission, and this makes a remarkable difference” (Jemisin 9). Through Um-Helat, Jemisin abstracts the consequences of colonialism into a tangible warning. The allegory universalizes systemic oppression while remaining grounded in real-world issues. By showing how even utopias require active resistance against harmful ideologies, Jemisin challenges readers to examine their role in maintaining injustice. Her work demonstrates how storytelling can inspire both reflection and actionable change in environmental and social ethics.

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Tommy Pico’s humor in Nature Poem disarms readers while delivering incisive critiques of environmental narratives. He writes, “Let's say I literally hate all men bc literally men are animals / This is the kind of nature I would write a poem about /” (Pico 2). By mocking colonial romanticization of nature, Pico disrupts traditional environmental storytelling. His humor, while irreverent, reveals the violence inherent in these narratives, which prioritize aesthetics over Indigenous survival. The casual and conversational tone mirrors Indigenous oral traditions, blending resistance with resilience. By using humor, Pico ensures accessibility while subverting expectations. This compels readers to confront the hiding of Indigenous history in mainstream environmentalism.

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Mary Oliver uses reverence to subvert anthropocentric environmental narratives in “When I Am Among the Trees.” She writes, The trees "they save me, and daily” (Oliver Line 5). Oliver’s language positions nature in a high-esteemed position, reversing traditional power dynamics that place humans above the natural world. Her simplicity and humility emphasize the intrinsic value of the environment, countering exploitative frameworks. By focusing on the dependency of human and nonhuman life, Oliver encourages readers to embrace morals of care for the environment rooted in respect. Her reverence challenges readers to see themselves as stewards rather than masters of the natural world.

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Jemisin, Pico, and Oliver redefine environmental ethics as deeply entwined with justice and connected to the relationship between culture and the environment. Jemisin’s “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” envisions a utopia that actively resists colonial ideologies. Pico’s Nature Poem critiques environmental narratives that erase Indigenous voices, advocating for frameworks centered on their cultural survival. Oliver’s “When I Am Among the Trees” celebrates the restorative power of nature, urging humility and reciprocal care. Together, these authors dismantle narratives that exclude historical perspectives, inspiring readers to embrace ethics that honor both cultural and ecological resilience. Their works envision a future grounded in equity and collective responsibility.

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These authors align with Bill Cronon’s critique in “The Trouble with Wilderness,” where he writes, “Wilderness hides its unnaturalness behind a mask that is all the more beguiling be-cause it seems so natural.” (Cronon 1). Jemisin, Pico, and Oliver challenge this mask, integrating human and environmental justice. Jemisin’s Um-Helat reimagines equity as central to environmental ethics which is seen in how the community balances human needs with the environment. Pico critiques colonial myths that commodify landscapes while ignoring the loss of Indigenous memories. Oliver celebrates the healing power of nature, promoting interconnected relationships over human dominance. Together, these authors dismantle exclusionary environmental narratives, advocating for inclusive frameworks that decolonize how we understand and interact with the natural world.

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Kolodny’s “Unearthing Herstory” explores the intersection of gender and environmental representation by examining how women’s bodies and landscapes are often metaphorically linked. She writes about how our land, like a woman, must be mastered and possessed in order to bear. This metaphor reflects patriarchal and colonial attitudes that exploit both land and women as resources. Kolodny’s critique aligns with Pico’s resistance of the colonial overtaking of nature and Oliver’s reverence for nature’s autonomy and the respect we must have for it. Together, these authors expose how systemic oppression shapes environmental narratives and advocate for ethics that recognize how gender and culture play a role in environmental justice.

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A map visualizing the settings and themes of Jemisin, Pico, and Oliver’s works highlights the interconnectedness of personal and political geographies. For example, Jemisin’s Um-Helat represents a decolonized utopia rejecting harmful ideologies in comparison to our present day world which is quite the opposite. Pico discusses colonized landscapes that erase Indigenous presence and fail to acknowledge their culture or history with the land. Finally, Oliver draws wisdom from natural spaces like forests and paints a connection between man and nature. This map could overlay textual excerpts onto geographic locations, illustrating how land serves as both a witness to and a participant in cultural and ecological histories. Such a representation emphasizes the authors’ shared opinion on reclaiming and reimagining the relationship between humanity and nature.

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Jemisin, Pico, and Oliver explore healing and resilience as key to environmental literacy. Jemisin’s “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” envisions a society that thrives through collective accountability and justice, healing from past ideological harm. It shows how important it is for us to show resilience from the history of our past. Pico’s Nature Poem reclaims Indigenous identity, showing resilience by confronting and subverting colonial environmental narratives, especially through his sarcasm and obvious distaste for previous nature works. Oliver’s “When I Am Among the Trees” highlights nature’s role in nurturing human well-being, offering daily restoration and solace, a key part of healing. Together, these authors frame healing not as an individual pursuit but as a collective and reciprocal process that ties cultural and ecological survival.