Nunchoga | a journey through deep time
REIMAGINING CONNECTION
We are creating a sanctuary for imagination, not a museum with artifacts behind glass, but a living experience where the boundaries between past and present, human and animal, dissolve. The Nunchoga Immersive Experience will invite you to step away from the noise of modern life and into a space where different ways of being become possible.
THE BABY WHO INSPIRES US
Nunchoga “big baby animal” in the Hän language, was a female woolly mammoth calf who lived nearly 30,000 years ago. Though her life lasted mere months before she was perfectly preserved in Yukon permafrost, our immersive journey imagines: What if she had grown to maturity? What if her kind had found sanctuary alongside humans who chose to learn rather than dominate?
A RETREAT INTO POSSIBILITY
Drawing inspiration from community led conservation models like Kenya’s Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, where local Samburu people protect and nurture orphaned elephants using traditional ecological knowledge, our experience will create spaces for contemplation and connection. Like Reteti, which demonstrates how communities can become stewards rather than exploiters, we envision an immersive retreat where visitors can shed modern assumptions and inhabit a different relationship with the natural world.
“We’re not designing an exhibit…we’re creating a portal. When you enter this space, you’ll feel what it means to exist in deep relationship with another species.” -Concept Designer, t.addison brown
THE JOURNEY WE’RE CO-CREATING
On our simulated Nunagattaq Island, you’ll follow two intertwined journeys. Yamo, inspired by Nunchoga, growing from vulnerable calf to wise matriarch, and Anik, a human who approaches mammoths not as resources but as teachers. Through multisensory environments, you’ll experience:
- Seasonal transitions affecting both species, felt through temperature changes and shifting terrain
- The subtle vocabulary of mammoth communication through infrasonic vibrations
- The gradual transformation of human settlement patterns as they align with mammoth wisdom
GUIDED BY MANY VOICES
This experience is being shaped in ongoing dialogue with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation knowledge keepers, paleobiologists, conservation psychologists, and members of the Samburu community who steward Reteti Sanctuary. Their collective wisdom guides our approach to storytelling that honors ancient connections.
THE CONSCIOUSNESS BRIDGE – CONCEPT PHASE
Our design team is currently developing what may become our most transformative element. A neural-response environment where visitors’ collective attention and emotional states influence the unfolding narrative. This experimental space aims to recreate the wordless understanding that might have developed between species who learned to read each other’s intentions and needs.
AN EXPERIENCE FOR BECOMING
Rather than simply learning about the past, visitors will be invited to temporarily become part of an alternative history, one where humans chose integration over extraction. Like a contemplative retreat, the experience offers the opportunity to shed habitual ways of thinking and practice different modes of attention and relationship.
CARRYING FORWARD
Before leaving, visitors will discover connections between the mammoth-human relationship and contemporary conservation efforts, particularly community led initiatives like Reteti where traditional knowledge informs protection of modern elephant populations. We hope to forge partnerships that channel support to these living sanctuaries.
The Nunchoga Experience isn’t just about what might have been, it’s about what still could be. We invite you to join us in imagining and creating a world where humans remember how to listen to our more-than-human relatives.
all the Love my heart can hold | documentary film
It’s a beautiful ride when animals remind us that the greatest lessons in life are often found in the most unassuming hearts.The ” What about Daisy? ” story expands with this short documentary film “all the Love my heart can hold ” which is a deep look into what Daisy’s human and non-human family did to ensure her a beautiful life.
Ho’iho’i (echo) | podcast and visual art series
Narrative: Hoʻihoʻi weaves a narrative that goes beyond the surface beauty. It delves into the island’s history, mythology, and the timeless stories of its inhabitants. From the legendary demigod Maui to the significance of ‘ohana (family), every image and word is a piece of the island’s living story.
Cultural Exploration: The project explores the traditions and cultural practices that make Maui unique. Whether it’s the rhythmic chants of hula dancers, the craft of weaving lauhala, or the art of preparing a traditional luau, you’ll gain a deep appreciation for the island’s heritage.
Conservation and Sustainability: Hoʻihoʻi also sheds light on the importance of preserving Maui’s natural wonders. It highlights the efforts to protect endangered species, conserve fragile ecosystems, and promote sustainable practices to ensure Maui’s beauty endures for generations.
Community Engagement: Throughout the project, there’s an emphasis on engaging with the local community. Interviews with Maui residents, artisans, and cultural experts provide an intimate perspective, fostering a sense of connection between viewers and the island’s people.
In Hoʻihoʻi you’ll not only see the island’s breathtaking vistas but also feel the heartbeat of its culture and the warmth of its people. It’s an invitation to experience Maui’s magic and to connect with the aloha spirit that permeates every corner of this tropical paradise.
