I was introduced last night by Mike Callahan to author Leila Philip author of “Water Rising” who is publishing a book next year about beavers. So you know I went straight to google and looked her up. I was surprised to see her work had evaded me this long, since I usually hear of all things beavers in most parts of the world.
From The Hill News at St, Lawrence University
The title piece in her recent book, “Water Rising,” inspired Philip’s current project, “Beaverland.” The title piece is about an encounter with a beaver, but also explores the concept of change. “It’s about transformation,” said Philips, “and the beaver is the vehicle for exploring those things.”
Philip fell in love with beavers and possessed a desire to learn more, which soon led to five years of research and the creation of “Beaverland.” “Through destruction beavers create, and that’s a really profound and complicated thought the more you think about it.” The mystery of the beaver had to be engaged before researching the facts, she further explained.
For those of you following along at home, you may be amused to learn that “Beaverland” was the working title of Ben Goldfarb’s book before his editors had their way with it and launched EAGER. Her writing sounds like this is more about the symbol of beavers than the beavers themselves, but I am all for talking about all their meanings.
In addition to its metaphorical use, Philip also utilizes the beaver to trace the historical nature of American imperialism. The fur trade founded the first American economy and, according to Philip, the beaver also offers a story for the ways in which humans can alter their exploitative relationship to nature. “I had never thought about it as a lens through which to look at American history,” she said. “But in storytelling you’re often looking for a lens or a way into a more complicated story.”
For Philip, asking questions is an important aspect of the writing process. “It’s about asking questions, and just pushing at the paradoxes and contradictions of what it means to be human,” she said. And what started as a poem in “Water Rising,” soon led to five years of extensive research. Philip delved into documentation of the fur trade, and in addition, immersed herself in all things beavers by going out in the field with trappers, wildlife biologists, environmental vigilantes and Native American Environmentalists.
Hmm she’s been working on this book for five years and this is the first I’m hearing of her? That is actually surprising since Worth A Dam pops up in mostly any google search about beavers. Maybe it’s an east coast thing. Or a literary thing, Maybe I’ve lost my touch.
She discovered that environmental projects in western parts of the US, and somewhat in eastern regions, are focused on returning beavers to their habitats. So she “began to think this was also a really interesting way to think about environmentalism, climate change and the environmental challenges we face today.”
“Beaverland” is currently in the writing stage and will consist of 14 chapters. Philip has completed four and chose to share a chapter with the St. Lawrence community. “It’s an exciting stage to read from,” she stated.
Beaverland will be coming to you next year. Let’s hope 2022 is a transformational year for us all.
Beavers are represented by two extant species, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) and the North American beaver (Castor canadensis); each has played a significant role in human history and dominated wetland ecology in the northern hemisphere. Their behaviour and ecology both fascinate and perhaps even infuriate, but seemingly never fail to amaze. Both species have followed similar histories from relentless persecution to the verge of extinction (largely through hunting), followed by their subsequent recovery and active restoration which is viewed by many as a major conservation success story. 
