Our Perspective Underscores the Understanding of the Interconnectedness of Water and the Need for Collective Conservation Efforts

By Jon Naranjo from Santa Clara Pueblo.

The Rio Grande means a lot to me, my family, and our culture. This river carries water from the southern Colorado headwaters, which means life for our people and all living creatures, animals, trees, and plants that grow along the river. 

Agriculture is a big part of our culture and tradition, sustaining us for thousands of years. Our people have long utilized the Rio Grande River to grow our crops, including traditional staple foods such as squash, beans, and corn, as well as other crops that the Spaniards shared, like Mexican chili, wheat, and fruit trees. 

The acequias, as irrigation systems, have allowed our community to manage the water and be stewards of the land. We used it to direct the water flow to places that were being cultivated or needed for certain livestock after Spanish contact. We used water from these water ways to mix clay to make pottery as water containers, the mud was also utilized for adobe making to build our homes and sustain ourselves in a variety of ways. 

The Caja del Rio downstream from Santa Clara Pueblo is important because we have an ecosystem that continues to grow riparian areas of native plants, trees, and herbs. This allows the establishment of healthy ecosystems, which means healthy humans.

We are mindful of water usage and land use. We believe the water will flow the way it needs to, and we think about our neighbors downstream. 

Therefore, our water usage practices extend beyond our community. In our prayers for the well-being of our community, we also include wishes for the entire world. This perspective underscores our understanding of the interconnectedness of water resources and the need for collective conservation efforts.