‘At the end of the day, we’re on this ship together.’

Last week, the Center of Southwest Culture’s Arturo Sandoval was on New Mexico in Focus. One of the organizers of the original Earth Day in 1970, Sandoval explained that the event blew up beyond what they ever imagined — and had a big impact. 

Congress passed laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Even President Richard Nixon was on board with environmental and public health protections for Americans.

“So, it looked to us at that time that we had made a significant impact, and that the environment was going to be in a better place,” he told me. “And for a short period, it was.”

Then, something happened over the last 30 years, he said — and activists ran into an enemy they weren’t expecting: what he called “unfettered capitalism.” 

“The capitalists are very, very disciplined in their approach and their political strategies. They’re very, very good at it and they have enormous resources,” Sandoval said. “And what they proceeded to do — and where we are today — is they have completely suborned the legislative, the judicial, and the executive branches of the federal government.”

You can watch both segments of the interview online if you missed it. And Sandoval didn’t just talk about the problems, he also discussed his vision for a post-capitalist economy. And he talks about the center’s work with programs like Story Riders and ¡Sembrando Salud!

Frankly, it’s the kind of conversation I love having — in a coffee shop or in our studio. And it’s the reason I still love being a journalist. It’s a privilege I don’t take for granted, especially when asking uncomfortable questions other people might wonder about, as well. 

I asked one of those questions toward the end of the interview — about how we can see and respect one another’s differences while also setting some differences aside to protect one another and our planet. I hope you’ll use this opportunity to watch, listen, and keep the conversation going. 

Lastly, please tune into NMPBS on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. to watch our new documentary, Ancestral Connections. It’s about the Pueblo of Santa Ana’s restoration of Tamaya Kwii Kee Nee Puu. 

In 2016, the Pueblo of Santa Ana paid $30 million for 60,000 acres of their ancestral lands — lands that had been privatized and then grazed for more than a century. 

And even though they bought those lands eight years ago now, they’re still waiting for the U.S. Congress to act so that they’re a part of the pueblo’s sovereign lands. In other words: Not only did the pueblo have to buy back their ancestral lands, they also still pay taxes on them since they’re still considered “private.”

But here’s the awesome part: The pueblo is using traditional knowledge and western science to protect Tamaya Kwii Kee Nee Puu for traditional uses. Along the way, they’re also protecting their cultural heritage, restoring grasslands and springs, removing fence lines, and studying and helping species like mountain lion, elk, deer, pronghorn, and more. In the program, you’ll learn about all of this and more, including how to open back up those wildlife corridors we’ve closed with our roads and highways. 

Buying back their lands is a number one priority, Nathan Garcia, former governor of the Pueblo of Santa Ana, told us last year when we were filming: “This was home, and I still feel that.”

I can’t begin to express my appreciation to the Pueblo of Santa Ana and staff at the pueblo’s Department of Natural Resources and Tribal Historic Preservation Office for spending time with us — and for the work they’re doing. And, of course, I’m always thankful for the Our Land crew, especially Director/Editor Antony Lostetter, who created a beautiful program for our audience. 

Tune in Thursday night! 

And think about something Sandoval said, “At the end of the day, we’re on this ship together. And if we don’t figure out how to fix it, we’re all going to go under together.”

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