As a landless Indigenous farmer and organizer, I work with many Indigenous land stewards with and without direct access to land and resources. These are the folks who are cultivating ancestral foodways with modern technology in order to open up pathways to healthy foods in their communities. These communities have faced multiple generations of colonization attempts to separate and abolish these seemingly savage cultural practices, yet now, this ancestral knowledge presents a sensible guide to living abundantly in an arid climate.
In my experience, direct access to Indigenous lands for farming and ranching purposes is irregular, multifaceted, and not easily accessible to tribal members.
There are a number of Indigenous farmers who are leading the path of Indigenous agroforestry and who are relying on the use of land outside of tribal lands for their projects. Less than one-third of tribal members currently live on Indigenous lands, and many of these households are overcrowded (Native Marican Living Conditions Today). These stats alone show that there is a direct need for equitable and long-term access to lands to be made available to current and future generations in order for folks to have the ability to grow food for themselves and their communities. This can encourage food security at a local level.
Additionally, in order to encourage farmer and rancher success with Indigenous agroforestry practices, there is a need for equitable access to resources that are directly available to Indigenous individuals, businesses, or collectives. Further support could look like living stipends, micro-grants, health insurance coverage, mental health and wellness support, and providing technical assistance. This added support will help Indigenous individuals and communities continue to be leaders and educators in feeding locally in a culturally appropriate manner.
Agroforestry promises an oasis in the Southwest. Land managers and stewards have the opportunity to apply place-based Traditional Ecological Knowledge and agroforestry methods to revitalize and restore an edible landscape. The result brings in a reciprocal abundance of food and natural resources and enhances ecosystem functions and services. The utility of these agroforestry practices provides benefits of soil building, water harvesting, distribution of nutrients, and erosion control.
There is growing interest and demand for agroforestry. Current efforts in watershed management, agroecology, conservation, and forestry are revisiting ancestral ecological knowledge and agroforestry methods that work with the arid ecosystems of the Southwest. By applying ecological knowledge, locations on the watershed are identified that are frequently saturated from seasonal precipitation. Traditional structures can then be applied with current agroforestry methods to create fertile microclimates for restoration and rehabilitation treatments. Additionally, during times of climate change and extreme environmental disasters, these agroforestry systems can help protect and minimize the negative impacts on surrounding communities. New Mexico needs replanting over 2.5 million acres impacted by wildfires, yet the current capacity for growing seedlings is limited (New Mexico Legislature, 2022). The use of agroforestry in land management systems can help address these demands.
There is an opportunity to start agroforestry practices on a small or large scale. A key to learning about the bioregion and practicing traditional ecological knowledge is to be curious. Look into local resources, learn of native and adapted agricultural practices, and observe where water will be planted to enhance the edible landscape.
