Evolving Perspectives: Integrating Environmental History and HeritageAppreciation in Dinosaur Provincial Park

by David Verhulst

The stories we tell are important because they canchange how we act in the world. Park interpretersare professional storytellers and their storiesinfluence how visitors interact with the place theyare visiting. If done well, researchers agree thatinterpretation, or Heritage Appreciation canfoster the development of ecological citizenship. Inthe summer of 2003, a study was undertaken atDinosaur Provincial Park to explore the perceivedability of existing programming to promote ecologicalcitizenship. Follwoing a series of in-depthinterviews with key stakeholders, it became apparentthat the promotion of ecolocial citizenship waschallenged by a lack of information conducive tointegrating natural and cultural history into parknaratives. It was determined that the incorporationof environmental history narratives into parkprogramming could improve the ability of interpreitveprogramming in Dinosaur Provincial Park to promoteecological citizenship. Environmental historynarratives integrate nature and culture and explorehow people have influenced the land and how the landhas influenced people throughout time.

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2008