Historical Interpretation and Audience Engagement

​The Allen County Indiana Master Naturalist program was introduced to natural and historical interpretation at Metea County Park. The first speaker, Greta Sirois is a member of the Myaami (Miami) Nation of Indiana of Indiana. She helped students understand how to make history and culture relevant to naturalists engaging the public. The second speaker was Bob Dispenza. He is the Park and Education Manager at Metea County Park. One of his vocations is that of a Civil War Reenactor. He provided a second approach to helping students make history come alive.
 
There is no doubt that Bob’s presentation as a Hoosier Naval Officer during the Civil War was entertaining. However, that was not the point. He started his presentation as himself. He explained what he was going to do, using clothing, artifacts, letters, and historical information, to make his “person” come alive. This provided an avenue for students to understand the influence of the land on behavior and history. As a state of rivers and canals connected to much of the nation east of the Mississippi River it made sense that Indiana had a navy contingent. Also, following Greta Sirois’s Myaami presentation the transformation of the land became clear.
 
Historical and cultural presentation integrates geology, geography, plant and animal life as well as human
behaviors. This is the land of glaciers, multiple Native peoples, settlers, all shaped by the land. This is a
land that had great forests and wetlands only to have them reduced to increase farmland, cities, and
address health concerns. Historical interpretation engages students by giving them living facts about the
land and people and then challenging them to give those facts meaning. Today we recognize wetlands as
vital to healthy water systems, biodiversity, and flood control. However the reasons for draining the
wetlands can be understood without being judgmental. Today we face critical environmental concerns.
Learning land management from indigenous peoples who lived in harmony with the land can prove to be
beneficial.
 
When people study to become Master Naturalists, I suspect historical interpretation is not the first thing
they think of. Thanks to Greta and Bob’s presentations I suspect the future Master Naturalists will be far
more engaging with their park visitors because of tonight’s model of interpretation.