About
“Tell all the truth, but tell it slant”
—Emily Dickenson
Instead of going straight into the hardness of it, the stories found on Animal Footnotes, as Dickenson wrote, “… tell it slant.” They chart a narrative that’s been omitted, denied, or neglected, and they point to the brilliance and ingenuity of the animals themselves and the traditional cultures that regard animals as their relatives and teachers. Settler colonialism broke those ancient ties, but what if we sought to restore them?
Animal Footnotes posts short non-fiction pieces and illustrations about animals both wild and domestic, but mostly wild. Soon we will expand to include book excerpts, poetry, and interviews. If you would like to be a contributor, email us and tell us what you have in mind. We’d love to hear from you.
Our gratitude goes out to the Culture & Animals Foundation and WESPAC Foundation for their support, encouragement, and patience. To learn more about Animal Footnotes, read our first post here.
Staff
Tracy Basile — Writer & Editor
Tracy is a freelance writer who has reported on animal welfare, wildlife, indigenous rights, food and farming. Her work has appeared in the Village Voice, Orion, ASPCA Animal Watch, Animal Welfare Institute Quarterly, the Unbound Project, Indigenous Survival and Spirituality & Health. She became an ally to Indigenous peoples in 2001 while reporting on the efforts of Indigenous and animal activists to shut down one of the world’s largest pig factories being built on sacred Lakota land on Rosebud Reservation. Later, she co-founded a local committee in support of Indigenous peoples and their rights called Friends of Turtle Island at WESPAC Foundation. To unwind and connect, Tracy can be found studying animal tracking in the parks and preserves near her home in the Hudson Valley.
Sebastian Hanlon — Illustrator & Web Designer
Sebastian is Animal Footnotes’ web designer and illustrator. He is a graduate of Parsons School of Design and has more than 10 years of professional training in illustration and fine arts. He also has a deep passion for animation. Sebastian credits Hayao Miyazaki, Ken Sugimori, and Norman Rockwell for having inspired him to bring the wonder of humanity, animals, and nature into his work. You can learn more about all his creative endeavors here.
Our Mission:
Animal Footnotes grew out of an idea for a book about the impact of colonization on the animals of Turtle Island, more commonly known today as North America. At its core, it’s about animals, but it’s also about Indigenous worldviews, the devastating impact of colonization, and what’s being done today. We seek to draw lessons from the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island who have built ties with their animal relatives lasting thousands of years.
This website is dedicated to all who have ever wondered about shifting away from a colonial mindset and learning what it means to live here on Turtle Island together.
