Keeley Jock on Respect for and Reintegration into our Natural World
Today, we're spotlighting a powerful young voice in environmental protection, Keeley Jock, an Environmental Science graduate from Paul Smith’s College and a dedicated advocate for water and land. A member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe from Akwesasne, Keeley’s journey highlights the profound connection between Indigenous knowledge, cultural revitalization, and environmental stewardship.
A Childhood Rooted in Connection and Sustainability
Keeley’s upbringing instilled a deep awareness of the connectedness of all things, humans, animals, land, and water. She grew up with her family and community, instilling in her the importance of living sustainably, ensuring the next seven generations can enjoy the same resources and experiences, affectionately referred to as the “Seven Generations Principle.” Having been raised along the mighty St. Lawrence River, she admits to taking it for granted as a child. Living away from home has fostered a much greater appreciation for the river, especially now that she lives near the headwaters of the St. Regis and Raquette rivers and at the edge of the St. Lawrence watershed.
Her love for water truly blossomed as she explored her academic interests. As Keeley began her journey at Paul Smith’s College, she admittedly knew very little about plants. However, a pivotal moment of identifying a plant for the first time sparked a "chain reaction" that led her to discover and identify carnivorous plants in the Adirondack Park, like pitcher plant and sundew, which ultimately developed into a profound affection for wetlands. Learning about wetlands and wetland vegetation further deepened her love for water. For Keeley, “Water really is life and sacred as itself.”
Passion for Land Back, Wetlands, and Stewardship
Keeley is passionate about stewarding wetlands and immersing herself in ecological pursuits – whether that be in her career or furthering her education. In this moment of her life, she is most passionate about supporting the critical movement of Land Back. Land Back is a decentralized campaign that advocates for the return of lands to Indigenous peoples. She emphasizes that Land Back is far more than just the return of physical territory; it's about revitalizing culture and identity. As Indigenous peoples are the original stewards of the land and water, returning land - or at a minimum, creating access and co-management of lands taken through fraudulent sales, theft, or forced removal - serves to revitalize both the environment and culture.
Keeley firmly believes that Indigenous sovereignty is key to creating better care for the environment. When she thinks of her upbringing, now as a young adult, she sees how connected she and others in her community were to the Earth. Her relationship with nature is deeply intertwined, where the decisions she makes and the way she views the world are through a lens of partnership with the natural world. Keeley’s life has followed a path of connection and education to help others understand her perspective. Her capstone project at Paul Smith's College focused on informing wetland assessments with Indigenous Knowledge to better prioritize wetlands for conservation. By incorporating the cultural, ceremonial, and medicinal significance of wetland plants, she was able to contrast two perspectives on wetland ecosystem health: government-established guidelines versus the integration of natural resources into Indigenous life and culture. The findings highlighted striking differences, sparking thoughtful discussion among audiences and revealing the nuanced complexities of conservation management. She even shared her research and the seventh-generation principle in a TedX Talk at The Wild Center. Currently, she is an Adirondack Conservation Associate at The Nature Conservancy’s Follensby Pond Research Preserve in Tupper Lake, where she is helping to integrate Land Back principles into a protected area of the Adirondack Park.
Why Wetlands Matter: Earth's Natural Water Storage
When we think of protecting waters, we often picture the lakes, ponds, and rivers we boat on. However, Keeley emphasizes the vital, often overlooked, role of wetlands. Wetlands are unique in their soil and plant composition, being intrinsically linked to the presence of water, particularly in the growing season. They are biodiversity hotspots and play a key role in global carbon storage. Acting as transition zones between water bodies and terrestrial areas, wetlands are like natural sponges, holding millions of gallons of water and releasing it gradually over time. This buffering capacity helps mitigate the devastating impacts of extreme precipitation events.
A Vision for the Future and Advice for Young Environmentalists
Keeley hopes to continue her impactful work, whether through graduate studies or her career path. She envisions a future where more young Native people enter various fields, where their voices are heard, and where they can "take up space" in environments where they feel safe. She is committed to making her opinions heard, particularly in white-dominated spaces.
For young people passionate about the environment, Keeley offers inspiring advice: "Just do it. Be loud." Echoing Samwise Gamgee, she reminds us, "there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for." She encourages everyone to discover their deep passion, whether it's teaching, conservation, ecology, law, policy, justice, whatever it is, pursue it with your whole heart.
To learn more about Keeley’s capstone project, watch her TedX talk here.