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My Heritage is Not a Problem in the Outdoors.
Guess what Leave No Trace (LNT) Principle I break when I celebrate my culture?
It’s Principle 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors.
Are you scratching your head like me?
For our @LatinasWhoAdventure LNT episode, @takenbymistral we went through every principle line by line and discussed what it really means. It can be a bit vague here or there.
“Heather, what the principal did you break?“
“Bright clothing and equipment, such as tents, that can be seen for long distances are discouraged. Especially in open natural areas, colors such as day-glow yellow may contribute to a crowded feeling; consider earth-toned colors (ie. browns and greens) to lessen visual impacts.”
Did you know if you own any clothes or gear that are not earth-toned, that you are breaking a principle?
When I read that paragraph, I felt attacked. Additionally, bright colors are great for safety purposes.
I want to be easily spotted in case something happens. I want to be visible.
Additionally, the love for colors for my Mexican Heritage has been around since the Aztecs and Mayans. How can it all of a sudden be a problem? Is this a Westernized principle?
Hello, mother nature speaks to us in colors.
All I have to say is: My heritage, ancestry, culture are beautiful. My safety as a solo Latina hiker comes first. It is not a problem. I am not the problem.
To further add, I call this gatekeeping and assimilation too because it encourages people to buy new clothing (some people do not have the funds) and to dress like one another.
What are your thoughts about this topic?
Part 1:
Did you know one way how I show my Mexican Pride is my love for vibrant colors?
This color culture dates back to pre-Columbian times, we’re talking about the Mayans and Aztecs. It
These colors were created from plants, insects, and minerals. It was used to paint murals, pyramids, and palaces. It was found in textiles
The hues were brighter than what was know, and the Spanish loved the bright red textiles, which they discovered derived from the prickly cactus, and took it back home. Turns out it was the bugs (cochineal) that had the die, not the plant 😬😂. Inside that shell contains the bright red dye, which you need to scrape off and dry it.
Another fun fact: Did you know the Maya had invented a resilient and brilliant blue centuries before their land was colonized and their resources exploited?
Super cool information, right?
FTW I am not a historian, so if anyone wants to add more information or correct me, please do. I tried to keep it brief to avoid historical errors. LOL.
And it totally sucks how my culture and love for colors is a problem in the outdoor industry and now we are being told what to wear on stolen land and now it breaks a LNT principle? GTFO! Checkout our @LatinasWhoAdventure LNT Podcast episode for our full length discussion, we have an entire rant there.