Week 6 Reflection

One of my most important memories of this summer is a trip me and my supervisors took to our community partners in the Gila River Nation and the Salt River Nation where we learned about different models of community gardens and farms.

We piled into Andrea (one of my supervisor’s) car and drove up to Gila River. Once there, we met David, a Gila River elder and partner with Native Seeds Search. He spent the next 2 hours taking us through his greenhouse, the history of the Gila River people, and most movingly, his life.

We all stood patiently listening to David talk about the history of the Gila River Nation, specifically the Gila River. The Gila River people used to predominantly survive through flood farming, however, the US government began polluting their river, stripping them of their ability to farm and leading to one of the worst famines of their history. David then talked about how the level of obesity in the Gila River is one of the highest in the world because of a lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables. So, he started a community garden as a way of teaching young people community gardening, continuing ancestral farming practices, and providing more fresh food and jobs to the community.

I’ve carried a few reflections back with me from this moment. First, joy sustains hard, seemingly impossible work. Without centering joy in devastation and building back up, it’ll be so unsustainable for you, which is to say resilience isn’t possible without joy. Also, as I read and learn the stories of communities harmed by state violence, I also try to learn and celebrate that community’s joy.

Second, there are 22 Indigenous Nations in “Arizona”, and growing up not learning any of those histories is deeply disturbing and angering. We never learn the history of marginalized folks, but it feels particularly violent to not learn the people whose land on which we reside. So, I’ve been making a list of books and articles to read to educate myself on the history of the Indigenous Nations in “Arizona”.

Third, on our drive back from the Gila River Nation and the Salt River Nation, we talked about climate anxiety and the ways it’s grown and shrinked our lives. I started reflecting on my own climate anxiety, or feelings of dread, hopelessness, and regret as environmental injustices worsen. I thought of all the times my climate anxiety worsened, and it was squarely during times when I wasn’t on the ground and involved with organizations focused on community care & environmental justice. Working at Native Seeds Search– doing work and watching it physically grow– as well as going on this trip centered joy, hope, and resilience as a way of caring for each other and our planet. In gardens, some things you plant grow, other things don’t. Some things survive, some things die. Sometimes something you’ve seeded in the spring of last year blooms in this year’s winter. In this frustrating circle, there is always an ushering forward, a deep understanding that it’s natural for not everything to come to a head. I’ll always be grateful for learning that kind of leadership and direction.

All these conversations, listening, and reflection led me to making a map! I wanted to leave something behind at NS/S as both a testament to how much I’ve learned and for other young people who are interested in getting involved in their local community gardens and farms but don’t know where to start! I made a map of a few of the community gardens and farms around Arizona.