Sanctuaries are unique places, built out of the necessity to provide nonhuman primates that have endured years in biomedical research a satisfactory place to retire & live out their life with as much autonomy as possible. While this grounds us in everything we do & every decision we make, it also lends to a unique work place and culture. One of the factors of this unique workplace is the language that gets used!
We’ve talked before on the blog about specific phrases that get used often, i.e. “The chimps are off the hill”, but there are also specific ways we talk about the chimps throughout our day. This is one of the most interesting aspects of sanctuary culture, at least to me, and although we’ve likely covered it in a blog before- I thought it was time to bring it back. 🙂
One of the phrases that is used, maybe most often, is that we are serving the chimps a meal. While a lot of us come to the sanctuary using the phrase “feed the chimps”, serving is a more inclusive term that encourages thinking about the chimps as equals. Just as we go to a restaurant and get served our meal, the chimps also choose to come to a meal to get served items from the menu!
Another commonplace term used around here is referring to the chimps as people! Chimps are not human, of course, but they are people with unique personalities. So, you will often hear caregivers say things like “there are a few people being really playful in playroom one!”.
When shifting the chimps or when we are about to serve them a meal, we use the term “inviting” when referring to a certain space. So, if I was about to give Jamie’s group access to the greenhouse and try to close the front rooms off for cleaning, I would say “I am going to invite Jamie’s group into the greenhouse and try to close off the front rooms”. The term invite is appropriate here, because we are giving them the choice- if they choose to leave the front rooms I would close them for cleaning. If not, and someone (likely Jody) has decided that I should not get the front rooms that day, then so be it! We will clean them tomorrow. 🙂
Along with these specific phrases, there are the little ones used so commonly throughout the day that they’re not coming to mind. Foxie or another chimp asking for someone or something, for example.
These terms and phrases may take a while to roll of the tongue, but once they do you realize how natural it is- and then you discover that you have a hard time explaining why they’re used! At the end of the day, our priority is giving our residents (ooh, there’s another one) as much autonomy and choice as possible. This includes giving them the respect they deserve, which lends itself to the language that we use. The language of sanctuary is truly special and it helps put everything into perspective when we think about how we are guests in their home, and should act accordingly.
Here’s some photos of some awesome people in their home! 🙂
Jamie, this morning with her DIY Bolo-Tie in the greenhouse:
Cy, resting his head in his hand:
Foxie, enjoying the morning in the greenhouse:
Gordo, during a lunch forage:
Jamie, resting with her favorite bonobo book:
Missy, trying to talk me into snagging her some tomatoes from the garden:
Lucky, being her sweet-self:
Rosalie Allen says
Loved today’s blog-have learned so much about everyone and just makes me appreciate you ALL more! The photos are great way to finish the day!
Linda C says
Such a fabulous photo of Cy.
Thanks, Grace!
(oh, and I lookedup Scooby Doo, the live action actors one. Yeah, that Scooby is a bit hippo-looking)
Paulette says
I know right?! I love that photo of Cy!
Paulette says
All of that language shows just how much heart and sincerity is in all that you do.
Now, Jamie’s bolo…It’s always fascinating to me when she ties on a scarf. I assume that skill stems from her time with humans.
Back when you all were requesting blog ideas, I suggested a fashion show. So pull together all your fashion pictures! It just occurred to me, I haven’t seen a waistband in ages. What’s up with that? Are they out of fashion?
Linda C says
Now that you mention it, Paulette, I don’t recall if we’ve seen Annie Or Beezus with a waistband yet this year! A whole suumer without waistband fashion!
Marcie says
Thank you for your thoughtfulness to the chimps. Just realized I’ve been serving my critters but honestly sometimes I do just feed my family and tell them to move into another room or outside. Hehe. Pitfalls of a working mother.
Marya says
Ohhhh, these are fabulous photos and comments, Grace. I love getting more educated about the goings-on and how all the people spend their days. Jamie and her scarf just slay me! Smart woman, that. I know they appreciate being “served” instead of “fed” given the equalization of power that serving implies. It amazes me how on every level the chimps receive respect, honor and acknowledgement of who they each are, in addition, of course, to tomatoes, bananas, primate chow, forages for goodies and all the rest. Thanks to the entire staff for all you do!
Francoise says
Great post. I often struggle with what to.call the chimpanzees themselves: chimpanzees or chimps. I have a name that people take it upon themselves to shorten to Fran, and while I know they don’t mean to be disrespectful, at times it does feel a bit like that. I have one friend who’s always struggled with it and I don’t correct her as that would distance us. At the same time, my sister-in-law made it very clear that her grown children are not to be referred to as kids. Personally, I think that is a bit much. But I try to remember!!
Thanks for the post! Interesting.
Is there are any “rule”, however loose, to use chimpanzees rather than chimps? residents
Linda C says
I use “chimpy people” :slight_smile:
John says
Wow, how can we NOT be related. I so enjoy your picture posts.
Kathleen says
Thanks Grace, for directing our attention to why words matter. And why the philosophy and every little action within sanctuary matters too. You gave the perfect explanation as to why these terms are used and it all makes perfect sense. Or why chimpanzees and other animals who are still in labs, roadside zoos, the “entertainment” industry, all need to be retired (ha, another term, right?!) to a life in sanctuary.
Chimpanzees, and all primates, are people in my mind. (If a corporation can be granted personhood I can consider chimpanzees people. Better yet, I’d prefer they too had personhood but that’s another conversation entirely.) And while chimps may not be human, Jamie comes darn close! She clearly has a highly developed brain, at times she shows a tendency towards abstract reasoning, and she has a wicked fashion sense. That bandana bolo-tie killed me! Bandanas are oh so trendy right now too, how did she know?! Jamie the influencer!! That casual look on her on face….it’s all too much. Sigh, Jamie I love you….
Thanks for your post and these magnificent photos of the beautiful faces of the people who call CSNW HOME.