ARE THE ARTS USEFUL TO TAKLE ECO-ANXIETY?  

A recent study states that many young people in Quebec report feeling eco-anxiety and some do not want to have children because of the climate crisis. Well, what can the arts do? Some art forms can do something. For example, art that helps us re-establish a deep connection with nature. Visiting the permanent exhibition at the McCord Museum in Montreal, Indigenous Voices of Today, it is shocking to realize how our life patterns have changed.

Homo sapiens has been nomadic for 99% of his time on the planet. The 1% of his life on earth has been in the model of the one we know today, among the societies we define as developed.

The arts that are on display at the McCord Museum through the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today, can do good for eco-anxiety because we can make a deep reflection on our production and consumption habits. These are arts that are linked to all stages of individual and community life.

The arts were born with humanity to dance and thank the natural elements for their presence and then to define the activities and identity of a community. Looking at an Inuit work representing a bird or a caribou, the imagination opens up to a deep reflection where the elements of nature are connected and carry beauty, spirituality and knowledge.

In these times we live, we must talk about responsible consumption and production to mitigate climate change. It is important to give more and more voice to those who already know the model of responsible production and consumption. We have some great examples, here and in the world.  Thanks to the McCord Museum for the permanent exhibition: Indigenous Voices of Today

The complete article on eco-anxiety in French: l’ éco-anxiété