About Inviting Wildness

though we are shifting focus away from festivals, this remains true, hence, keeping it on the website for now:

  Inviting Wildness recognizes that humans are not the only animals who suffer the consequences of being cut off from our natural environments and creative tendencies. Yet, we have been the only animals to kidnap and breed other autonomous and sentient beings, and keep them as captive performers for our profit. Adding insult to injury, when animals are bred away from their natural habitats, raised by unnatural families to adopt an unnatural culture, releasing them back into the wild could mean a death sentence for some. This is where sanctuaries come in. A responsible and compassionate reaction to what these animals have been through, and even a rehab and readaptation space back to the wild, for those individuals who have a hearty chance of thriving. 

There have long been sanctuaries for once-captive land animals, yet several organizations are undergoing the passionate task of  establishing sanctuaries for some of the most popular, huge, and intelligent performers : whales and dolphins. 

Though much has shifted in recent years, as seen on the https://us.whales.org/ website, there are still over 3,700 whales and dolphins in captivity in marine parks and aquariums, with wild kidnapping still taking place overseas. Some of these whales were born in captivity, lacking the skills to hunt and travel -- lacking the skills to be a wild cetacean ( cetaceans =  a category that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises)  -- yet not emotionally or physically equipped to be a domesticated creature nor a performer or "ambassador".

Large sea sanctuaries in healthy waters and  appropriate climates must be established and supported so that these whales have a way out of human industry, as we simultaneously fight to end this violent practice of captivity altogether.  

You can learn more and donate directly to these sanctuaries. Here are a few: The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia,  https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/ about to enter Phase one in order to accept orcas and belugas, their first two orcas hopefully being Wikie and Keijo, from Marineland in Antibes, France ( please look this up -- action and funds needed to secure this plan!) 

The Dolphin Project , https://www.dolphinproject.com/  for previously captive dolphins, in Indonesia and headed by longtime activist, diver, and former trainer Ric o' Barry. The Dolphin Project not only specializes in sanctuary but also in releasing able dolphins back to their wild home waters.

 The National Aquarium https://aqua.org/stories/2023-06-26-sanctuary-state in Baltimore is groundbreaking in retiring their own dolphins to a sanctuary of their own, as soon as they can! And no, they will not acquire new dolphins for the aquarium. They kindly answered all my questions when I called them. They have a general donation button online, but if you donate over the phone or send a check, you can specifically state that you want the donation to go directly to the sanctuary project.

Also, check out your local aquariums, zoos, and tourist centers to see what kind of animals they keep and use to perform. Ask questions. Where did their animals come from? How were they acquired? Are they currently injured? Endangered? Are they participating in breeding and/or trading programs? Why? Are there plans to re-release said animals to the wild, or to a sanctuary? I've found that these establishments have been glad to engage with other people who care too !  

Dr. Sara Jecko (founder and facilitator) has been teaching in diverse situations for nearly 25 years. Her experience includes being the  director of summer camp music programs, a teaching artist at public and charter schools around New York City, a private tutor and mentor for music and academics, an advocate for students in need, and an adjunct instructor at the State University of New York, New Paltz ( music department, History of Jazz, History of Rock, Guitar classes and private lessons). She is currently the music coordinator at the joyful New Hope Community, and is developing a theater program there as well.

She holds a B.A in Jazz Studies, with a concentration in Guitar (SUNY New Paltz), an M.A in Social Sciences with a concentration in Ecological Psychology, and a Doctorate of Arts in Ecological Psychology (Viridis Graduate Institute). 

Sara has been performing on stage since she was 8 years old as an actress in kid theatre productions, and as a musician starting at 13 years old. 

Her artistic upbringing in New York City, as well as her familial ties with the Hudson Valley (where she now resides), has led her to understand wildness partially as a way of making contact – a creative, curious, and holistic state of being. 

She believes we all have an innate ability to create and express in the modes of music, dance,

 acting (roleplay), and storytelling. That whether we pursue these practices or not, they are a part of our wild nature, and can help us remember how we are all ecological beings and kin - sharing, co-creating, and belonging to this home on Earth.