05: Rituals

Rituals: addressing the urgencies of today

Floods. Droughts. Wildfires, and a trail of unclear air in their wake. Religious tensions. Unaffordable costs of living. A pandemic. Widespread civil unrest. The issues upon us are undeniable. How will we respond?

Informed by a series of discussions among built environment thinkers and community leaders from three regions—Calgary, Alberta (Moh’kins’tsis / Wîcispa Oyade), Monterrey, Mexico, and Chennai, India—the FOLD Editorial Committee issued a call for examples of rituals. In particular, we were interested in rituals that could address the urgencies of today. In seeking an alternative to the Eurocentric worldview that dominates much of global decision making, we take inspiration from writer/botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer who writes, in Braiding Sweetgrass, about the teachings from Indigenous creation stories, asking, “How can we translate from the stories at the world’s beginning to this hour so much closer to its end?” A ritual is a means of marking time. It is an indication of shared space. And ritual is malleable, something with a presence of the past as well as the future.

This collection of works, realized by the Guest Editors who engaged with local artists in their respective region, represents young voices, Indigenous voices, and perspectives that are overlooked at tables concerning global affairs. They tug at our perception of the word “ritual,” expanding it to include everyday elements like doors and home horticulture. They encourage us to see ritual’s place in mental health, water sovereignty, and religious coexistence. They highlight the notion that ritual, at its simplest, is human behaviour—and in doing so give us confidence that our actions can help set our world on a better course. We hope their works invite you to reconsider your own impact on the world we’ve borrowed from future generations.

We encourage you to share your own rituals here >>. 

–Christina Amaral Kim, amery Calvelli, Sue-Shane Tsomondo and the FOLD Editorial Committee