Hideaway Beach While wandering through the varied and lush tropical foliage, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of rustling fronds, I marveled at the vibrant greens surrounding me. The sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled light on the path ahead. As I ventured further, I stumbled upon a... Continue Reading →
Bubblegum Orchid If you opened the door to your hotel room and flipped on the light to see this bright pink stalk of flowers greeting you, how would you react? Would you be tickled? Would you lose the color in your cheeks? Would you think your imagination has run wild? Would it make you feel... Continue Reading →
Tropical Metropolis This image is 100% real and not AI generated. It seems strange to have to make that claim, but this is the reality in which we live. The lines between fact and fiction are increasingly blurred and challenging to discern. The distinction between the artificial and natural objects in this photograph though should... Continue Reading →
Gitksan Totem Pole This totem pole is installed at the Seneca Park Zoo. The sign beside it reads in part: "Walter Harris and Art Sterrit, both of the Gitksan Nation in British Columbia, Canada, came to Rochester to carve this totem pole by hand. For one month, they worked with gouges, handmade knives and chisels.... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage: The Wampanoag Story
It's probably no coincidence that the U.S. recognizes November as both Native American Heritage Month and the annual celebration of Thanksgiving. After all, we were brought up with stories of the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving shared in harmony with a welcoming of Indigenous Peoples from the region. Though much of this romanticized depiction has since been... Continue Reading →
Well, way up north where the air gets coldThere's a tale about Christmas that you've never been toldAnd a real famous newt all dressed up in redAnd he spends the whole year peelin' out of his shed It's the li'l red eftOoh, li'l red eftIt's the li'l red eftOoh, li'l red eft AhhhhhhOoooooooMerry Christmas Spotted... Continue Reading →
Before we had begun our trek through the trail of cedar, we had heard rumors and myths of an ancient monster that ruled these forested hills. Some described it as a giant gnarly serpent, while others recounted something like that of a lanky angular dragon. We had been warned to "leave no trace" of our... Continue Reading →




















