We Must Reestablish Our Connection to Mother Earth and Take Good Care of Her

By Ralph Vigil, acequia parciante, farmer and conservationist.

My family has deep roots in Pecos, New Mexico, dating back to the late 1800s when this land was still part of Mexico and became a territory of the United States. I am a 12th-generation Hispano in the state of Nuevomexicanos. We take pride in our mixed Spanish and Indigenous heritage, and in our contributions to this state, known as the Land of Enchantment.

Preserving the acequia agricultural and traditional practices has been a vital part of our family's legacy. We played an important role in establishing the acequia de Molino to run a mill in the mid-1800s.

Being good stewards of our lands and waters is ingrained in us. I have always felt a strong connection to our lands and waters. This connection was fostered during my childhood, when I spent a lot of time outdoors, gathering wood in the mountains, swimming in the river, playing among the large rock formations behind my house, climbing trees, hunting, fishing, and camping near a small ranch along Bull Creek, a tributary just east of the town of Pecos.

It wasn't until later in life, though, that I truly grasped the significance of conservation and traditional land use practices.

As I grew older and became a father at 19, I found myself spending less time outdoors due to obligations and the need to earn a living to pay the bills. I worked in corrections, then at the County Assessor's Office, and eventually became a real estate broker, selling off the land in my own community to wealthier individuals moving in from other areas. Witnessing gentrification all around me, I realized I didn't want to be a part of it.

The economic crash in 2008 brought me back to my roots. Through farming and acequias, which are community-owned and managed irrigation systems, I reconnected to the land. As a result, I was appointed as the New Mexico Acequia Commission Chair, a role that I served in for 19 years. This experience deepened my connection to the land, and I developed a strong love for it, known as "querencia."

My passion for safeguarding our lands and waters was ignited, and I became actively involved in resisting mining corporations and other interests that sought to exploit and alter our lands.

I am now the Northern New Mexico Organizer for New Mexico Wild and have been working to protect the lands, waters, and way of life in Pecos, which are being threatened by extensive new mining proposals in the Upper Pecos Watershed. 

It's crucial for more Hispanics and Latinos to engage in conservation efforts because it's a part of our identity. Our ancestral ties connect us to these lands. Whether we are from South America, Central America, Mexico, or North America, we all have Native heritage in us, binding us to our Mother Earth that sustains us.

We need a more diverse coalition that goes beyond just Anglo environmentalists. It's important to consult with the local communities who have been on these lands for generations, rather than imposing land protection designations without their input.

Hispanics and Latinos should take on leadership roles in the conservation movement. We need to reestablish our connection to Mother Earth, take good care of our planet, and ensure its protection for future generations. This responsibility is owed to our children and grandchildren.