Afro Trek Tribe

Encouraging those in the African Diaspora to get outdoors 

Narrative storytelling has been a powerful tool in the fight for racial healing, allowing communities to honor the complexity of racism in America while reclaiming agency over their histories and futures. Through stories, people of color have been able to expose the deep roots of systemic racism and cultivate spaces for healing that center on both individual and collective experiences. One profound way this healing manifests is through reconnecting with nature, a relationship that African American and Indigenous ancestors understood deeply, as they were the original stewards of the land. 

By reimagining this connection, many are finding that nature not only provides solace but also becomes a vehicle for racial healing and liberation. The history of African American and Indigenous peoples as tenders of the land is often overlooked, yet it holds immense power in reshaping our understanding of how we can use nature as a source of healing from systemic racism. Indigenous peoples were the original inhabitants and caretakers of the land in what is now the United States, living in harmony with natural ecosystems for thousands of years before colonization. Their knowledge of land stewardship, from sustainable farming to sacred ecological practices, was based on the belief that humans are interconnected with the earth. Similarly, African American ancestors, many of whom were enslaved and forced to work the land, carried with them agricultural knowledge and a deep spiritual connection to the land that had sustained them for generations.

Despite this history, centuries of racism and displacement have often separated these communities from the land, both physically and spiritually. In recent years, however, movements centered on land reclamation and ecological justice have sought to restore that relationship. By acknowledging the ancestral role as caretakers of the earth, these movements empower communities of color to reconnect with nature not only as a source of healing but also as an act of resistance against the forces of environmental racism and displacement.

One powerful example of using nature for healing and racial reclamation can be seen through the work of the Afro-Trek Tribe, a hike-heal community that encourages those in the African Diaspora to get outdoors. 

For many, the hike-to-heal process allows them to confront the psychological impacts of systemic racism while immersing themselves in the healing powers of the natural world. The outdoors provides a sanctuary for Afro-Trek Tribe participants, offering an escape from the pressures of Midwest city life and the ever-present racial microaggressions that can wear down one’s spirit. In these spaces, they can breathe freely, reflect deeply, and embrace a sense of freedom that is often difficult to access in everyday life. Many participants have shared that the events provided by the Afro Trek Tribe helped them "process trauma, find emotional release, and build community with others in a way that felt both sacred and transformative."

Through the lens of narrative storytelling, the work of communities like the Afro-Trek Tribe demonstrates how nature can be a profound healer, especially for those who have been historically marginalized. By reclaiming the ancestral wisdom of land stewardship and engaging with the natural world as a source of strength and grounding, we can begin to heal from the deep scars of systemic racism. Nature reminds us of our inherent worth, our resilience, and the enduring connection to the earth that our ancestors fought to preserve. Through this, we can reimagine a future where racial healing is possible and actively nurtured by our relationship with the land and each other.

 

Offerings: 

Guided Hikes

Nature Retreats 

Excursions +Travel 

Outdoor Healing Circles 

 

Please contact infroafrotrektribe@gmail.com for inquiries