By Michelle Rivera -
[email protected]
Last September, I reported on my visit to Best Friends
Animal Sanctuary and encourage all of our Animal Writes readers to make
a pilgrimage to this very special place. The article started out this
way:
In a tiny Utah town just south of the Utah/Arizona
border called Kanab lies a little slice of heaven, the Rainbow Bridge
and some of the world's most compassionate people.
For there, in Kanab, is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a
truly unique place. I had the privilege of visiting Best Friends while
on a road trip that began in Las Vegas and took us through Arizona and
Utah.
As a professional humane educator, I serve on the board
of APHE, the Association of Professional Humane Educators. It was
through this association that I first met Nathania Gartman, Humane
Educator for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Over the past few years we
have shared stories about our experiences in the field, working with
inner-city kids, trying to teach compassion for animals to kids who
barely know the meaning of the word. And as a South Florida resident, I
frequently run into the problem of language barriers as so many of my
students are speakers of Creole or Spanish. But Nathania's challenges
have been even greater, for her students are more apt to be Navaho
Indians, with a sub-culture and tradition like no other, and teaching
them about animal rights, animal welfare and just basic companion animal
care when the closest veterinarian is a half-day drive away is more
intimidating that I can even imagine. But Nathania never complains and
she always speaks of her community with grace and gratitude. When I
heard Nathania had been battling breast cancer, my admiration for her
soared even higher given the challenges she faces in her professional
and now in her private life. Unfortunately, Nathania was away at an APHE
conference (from which I was playing hooky) during my visit but we were
given the royal tour just the same.
I knew, at the time of writing that article, that
Nathania was battling breast cancer but was winning the battle. Indeed,
it was only a few months ago when I traveled to Lafayette, Indiana, to
meet with her and other humane educators for another APHE conference and
to interview her and others for my new book, Canines in the Classroom
(Lantern Books, Fall 2003 publication). Nathania was the picture of
health. She told me stories of how her doctor was amazed at her progress
in fighting the disease, and how she had immersed herself in education
about breast cancer so that she could mount an aggressive assault on it.
She was even teaching others about the merits of a plant-based diet to
avoid cancers such as hers! Ever the teacher, the educator, Nathania was
traveling around Kanab helping others face the fears of cancer.
Sadly, I must report that the humane education movement
has lost another soldier, another teacher, another activist. Nathania
succumbed to breast cancer on July 3, 2003 and leaves a terrible void at
that little slice of heaven that is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in
Kanab, Utah.
During my visit with Nathania, she gave me some sage
advice to pass on to other humane educators. I leave you with Nathania's
words:
"Be clear about what you want to do, the message you
feel you have the expertise to give, if you are a mother with a child
who has gone back to school and you want to give classroom
presentations, be clear about what you can do, know your audience, know
your teachers, if you are with an organization, know what their policies
or mission is. Know what is age appropriate. If you are not comfortable
with kids, work with the rotary club or find some other adult groups.
Stay focused. Organizing humane education means to stay focused and move
humane education along. The animals will benefit from all your hard
work. They will reap the rewards of your initiative and energy."
I am sure that Nathania has stopped at the Rainbow
Bridge along the way to be greeted by the hundreds of animals whose
lives she touched before being called home. What a tail-wagging,
tongue-slurping, purrs and kitten kisses greeting that will be!
Go on to AR2003 East Closes, AR2003 West Ahead
Return to 5 July 2003 Issue
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