Alberta Grassland Stories: An

Invitation for Policymakers - David Thomas

“Hi everyone, I'm David, I'm a fourth year Global Development Studies student at the University of Calgary. This project began with the intention to document my experience in the Alberta grasslands during our ANTH 541 field school, but what I encountered there shifted my perspective. What I had once viewed as just a scenic landscape revealed itself to be ecologically complex, culturally grounded, and politically significant. Through guided walks, conversations with Indigenous knowledge holders and conservationists, and moments of quiet observation, I came to understand the importance of physically and emotionally engaging with the land. You cannot care for what you have never truly seen.

This photo essay is an attempt to share that process of seeing. It combines personal reflection, ecological insight, and Indigenous knowledge to offer a grounded and accessible entry point into the importance of grassland stewardship. For policymakers, I hope this serves as an invitation to not just observe from a distance, but to walk the land, to listen, and to consider how meaningful policy must begin with meaningful connection.”