Native Tribes Celebrate Montana Land Ownership and Bison Range (野牛牧场) Restoration

Moiese, Mont. — A narrow road takes visitors zig-zagging up a mountain, and, if they’re lucky, they’ll see bison walking about freely. The bison range sits on more than 18,000 acres of undeveloped land in northwest Montana — land     1     (take) by the U.S. Government without the approval of Salish and Kootenai Tribes. In 2020, Congress passed a law     2     management of the land is transferred from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service back to Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland,     3     signed off on the law last year, said with the loss of tribal homelands in the early 1900s and decrease of bison herds, tribes lost traditional connections with the mammal. “But     4       that tragedy and loss, we are still here. You are still here. And that’s     5     to celebrate,” She said the people then relied on bison for food and livelihood, believing future generations would do the same.

“We all know history took a cruel and tragic turn after that,” Haaland said, and the tribes didn’t believe that the history     6     (represent) accurately at the bison range’s visitor center. Whisper Camel-Means, the tribes division manager for the wildlife refuge, said under the Fish and Wildlife Service supervision, the exhibits there previously used a different tribes’ word for bison, which they     7     not accept.

The Salish and Kootenai Tribes have corrected inaccuracies at the visitor center located on the Flathead reservation near the museum. The visitor center is now open,     8     (feature) new exhibits that better reflect the tribes’ involvement in bison conservation. Stephanie Gillin, education program manager for the tribes’ natural resources program, said she worked with cultural committees to get the correct history for the new exhibits. “We listen to our elders about some stuff we have to protect     9     if we don’t put it out there, we lose what it gives to us — you know, we lost that power it gives us,” she said.

The generational emotional wound, Gillin said, is still felt today within tribal communities and correcting the information at the visitor center is about respecting and preserving the tribes’ history.

The tribes are working to build a     10     (big) museum that will be closer to U.S. Highway 93. It’s a push to share their history with more people.

Wintry Scenes from a Swedish Wonderland

I always give the same advice to ambitious photographers: Wherever home is, that’s where you should begin. Having lived and worked everywhere but in Sweden for most of my life, I was terrible at following it myself. For me, Sweden has always been a place to relax and spend time with family. I’ve never explored it in the same way I’ve explored destinations like Zambia     1     now.

With all of my foreign trips     2     (cancel) this year, I decided to travel north from my home near Stockholm. What began as a two-week trip quickly turned into journeys     3    , both starting and finishing in midwinter, lasted the entire year.

Climate change doesn’t have any impact on the length of our daylight. And yet,     4     (lie) on the back staring up at the magical light show of the aurora borealis (北极光), I hardly minded the lack of daylight. Instead,     5     caught my attention was the fascinating beauty of the white, frozen landscapes and the endless shades of blue.

But Johan Stenevad, my host at Lapland Guesthouse, showed me     6     else. One day, on a snowmobile path lined with tall trees on both sides, he turned off his engine and asked me what I saw. “Trees,” I answered. “A forest.”

He shook his head. “Not a forest, just a plantation. Soon, this is what     7     (leave).” he said. For over half a century now, the ancient forests that once seemed endless continue     8     (cut) down. The Sami that live mainly in the northern areas     9     (face) an existential crisis. Their lives and culture are closely linked to the ancient forests and the reindeer (驯鹿) there. The slow growing lichen (地衣) and mushrooms upon which the reindeer depend for survival are not found in plantations. So, the death of one     10     mean the death of the other, and an uncertain future for an entire people.

We are not visitors in nature and it’s essential for our own survival as well as that of the natural world.

How the Victorians Invented the “ Staycation ”

Holidays feel like an important refreshment after such a tough year. While international travel is possible, it’s not exactly easy, so many are choosing to stay closer to home, taking a “staycation ”. This year holidaymakers are discovering the     1     of the UK’s coast and the beauty of its landscapes.

Domestic tourism as we know it began in the 19th century when the idea of the holiday was just becoming     2     . Expanding railways and changing work practices meant people had more leisure time for travelling. International travel was becoming easier but wasn’t     3     to all, so the Victorians chose to spend this newfound “ free ” time in the UK.

This gave way to the     4     of hot new holiday destinations, mostly on the UK’s coast. Great British seaside towns, from Bournemouth to Brighton, appealed to people with     5     of fun, sea and clean air — many of the things that continue to attract people today.

The great summer holiday as we know it was designed by the Victorians. The 19th century saw the industrial     6     and the rise of industrial capitalism, where factories were booming and work structures were more clearly and severely defined and presented. This led to the emergence of administrative     7     , like clerks, and an emerging middle class.

There was more     8     working time, including shift work in factories and time off on Sundays. As a result, working-class people had leisure time to use, and by the 1890s some skilled workers had half days on Saturdays, leading to the birth of the “ weekend ” — though this was not     9     until much later in the 20th century.

In 1871 the Bank Holidays Act was passed. This appointed certain days as holidays on which banks closed, though, over the years, more businesses began observing these days off work. Before 1830, banks closed only on the 40 saints’ days of the year, though by 1834 this was just four days, including Christmas day. From 1871, any day could be     10     a bank holiday, not just saints’ days.

Green Buildings and the Future of Taiwan’s Architecture

As people continue to find innovative ways to reduce waste and improve efficiency, more architects are turning to green buildings.     1     making an environmentally friendly building is a challenge, it’s possible to create beautiful spaces that improve their environments without negatively impacting nature.

One of Taiwan’s first truly green buildings is the Beitou Library. Apart from     2     (make) from sustainable building materials and making use of lots of natural light, the library also includes a complete recycling system and solar panels for power. In 2006, the building     3     (receive) a diamond rating in EEWH rating system.     4     (stand) for ecology, energy saving, waste reduction, and health, EEWH is a mark of Taiwan’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

    5     has always made Taiwan architects proud is its leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification. The LEED certification is an international award only given to buildings     6     scores stand out in several categories of sustainability and health. Features measured     7     (range) from building materials and waste management to air quality and energy saving.

    8     the dozens of LEED-certified buildings in Taiwan, Taipei 101 is the most notable recipient. That’s because it is the tallest building in the world     9     (hold) a LEED certification. Thanks to a combination of construction, energy-saving, and waste reduction features, the iconic tower has saved thousands of tons in carbon emissions through its environmentally friendly design.

Many other buildings around the world have also been certified by LEED,     10     of which serves a step in the right direction towards a cleaner future.

Restoring the peaceful spaces of Keyuan, and others, in Suzhou honors the past and keeps ancient skills alive, Wang Kaihao reports.

Students studying here two centuries ago seemed to be really enviable (令人羡慕的). First     1    (construct) in the 10th century as a part of a villa, the garden of Keyuan in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, was rebuilt and renewed on numerous occasions     2     history until it became a Confucian academy in 1805.

It was not, perhaps, an ivory tower where hermits became entirely emerged in metaphysical thinking honoring the ancient sages. The waterscape, rockeries and flourishing willows may have ushered (引导) students to step into a "painting"     3     earthly beauty and dynamics of a real world can be felt.

Keyuan, covering about 7,800 square meters, thus became the only     4     (survive) example among the classical gardens of Suzhou that     5     (function) as a school, whereas most of the rest were former residences.

However, its ownership changed hands several times in recent history, and the luster of the past seems     6     (forget) by the passing of time after the garden was finally used as offices and storerooms. The contrast became even more regrettable     7     the Great Wave Pavilion, a garden on the UNESCO World Heritage List that is just a few meters away across a narrow lane, was bustling with tourists every day.

When Keyuan was handed to He Fengchun, a veteran garden renovation designer, in 2012, her work to make “the pearl” shine again was challenging. The pond was muddy. Rocks were unstable. Plants were withering. Termites also took a toll on the buildings, the structure of which     8     (damage) through decades of neglect.

“Fortunately, its basic layout remained, ”recalls He, the director of Suzhou Institute of Landscape Architecture Design. “Detailed research of historical files and a survey of this site can thus offer us reliable references in     9     (consolidate) its structure and resuming the original landscape.”

Every step in the refurbishing and decorating process has to follow historical recordings and precedent, says the designer. If relevant documentation is vague, restorers     10     leave certain parts untouched to retain marks left by time.

“It took just more than one year for us to actually renovate this garden, but much longer time was spent in evaluating every detail in the plan and making sure of its historical accuracy,” she says.

Renovation of Keyuan was recognized with an Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation by UNESCO in 2019. A bright and elegant garden is now accessible to visitors and jointly portrays a culturally rich neighborhood with the Great Wave Pavilion.

9 . An Aurora (极光) Adventure in Norway

Beyond the cottage windows the world is white and still. Snow-covered mountains stretch to the sea. It’s only 2 p.m., but already the light is fading, bathing the scene in a mysterious blue.

    1     But instead of joining an organized and pricey aurora trip with a tour guide, I’m here on a DIY long weekend with friends.

We rented a riverside house in the tiny fishing village of Oldervik.     2     So we go back to the comfort of indoor space. The silence here is so complete that we can hear the gentle sound of snow falling from the roof.

Exciting activities, such as dog sledding and reindeer adventures, are easy to arrange.     3     But the striking beauty of the landscape and the sense of life being lived in slow motion, make us just want to stop for a while.

At Oldervik, it’s possible to catch the aurora anytime from September to April. The best time is from mid-November to mid-January, when the sun never appears. With cloudy skies we have no luck so far but on our last night, at the first sign of clouds clearing, we got into the car and hadn’t driven far when, with great excitement, we spotted a strange glowing arc (弧形) crossing the road like a milky rainbow.     4    

And then it begins: beams of greeny-white light dance as if from spotlights on the ground. To the naked eye (肉眼), the lights are not the bright greens and blues cameras capture on long exposures, but it’s fascinating none the less. The temperature during this time has fallen to –10℃ but we don’t feel it as we lie on the ground, gazing up and never wanting to leave.