Sanctuary in the outdoors does not exist. It sounds lovely and what a better place than Bend, to be referred to as such. I do not think it is something that exists for ALL people, maybe to a certain group, but not for everybody. Personally, I think the outdoors is definitely a sanctuary; I love being outside, I love being able to ground myself and reconnect with nature—such a pure and humbling feeling. I especially enjoy the rush of adventure I feel when exploring, the sound the river makes as it trickles downstream, the lush PNW vegetation and the thrill of visiting places with friends are all wonderful things.
The term outdoors is very vague and can take a multitude of forms. From walking around your neighborhood, commuting to work via a bike, walking to the bus stop, landscaping, gardening, eating at the park and, well you get the picture. I think this outdoor narrative, especially in Bend, is very confined, specific and limiting—which is wild to think or to even say, given the abundance of options to choose from here. But this box of "extreme" recreational activities and if you're not partaking in them, (paddle boarding, mountain biking, backpacking South Sister, rock climbing, etc.) then you're not really doing the outdoors.
VIDEO: Borja talks about his outdoors advocacy work with Latino Outdoors and with Oregon First Gentleman Dan Little:
That concept does not fit the mold for a lot of people and creates a giant barrier, not a sanctuary. The topic of the outdoors being referred to as an outdoor sanctuary—although it does feel like that to me, I know in fact that's not true for ALL people. Especially for folks in marginalized and underrepresented communities such as; indigenous tribes, POC communities, member(s) of the LGBTQ group(s), folks with disabilities and many more.
Sanctuary (n): a place of refuge or safety; sanctuary would be the last term folks from these communities would use to describe the outdoors. I think other words like fear, non-inclusive environment, not feeling it's for them because they do not fit the "Bend" narrative of the outdoors, fear of getting in trouble for not knowing regulations and rules, not knowing where this information can even be found, lack of gear knowledge and so many others.
This romanticized narrative about the outdoors being this sanctuary, is true, but mostly for the dominant culture that has controlled this outdoor narrative, such as here in Bend. For me to talk and write about the outdoors as a sanctuary would be a lie. Understanding that folks who reflect those underrepresented and marginalized communities do not resonate with this term, outdoor sanctuary. To perpetuate that false narrative would be a disservice to the work I am a part of and to the people of these communities. The outdoor sanctuary does not exist for ALL people. What does an outdoor sanctuary for all even look like? Is this something that's even obtainable? I don't know the answer to either, but will give everything I have to figure that out.
—Zavier Borja is a first generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Central Oregon. His passions include serving our youth, communities, equity and getting outside, all in various capacities and facets. In 2019, he created a chapter of Latino Outdoors, a nationally recognized non-profit, here in Central Oregon.
