‘Sowing Water’ for Life
The ‘Sembradoras del Agua’, or Sowers of Water have fought tirelessly in the defense of water in rural Mexico.
The grandmother water defender, Carmen Santiago Alonso of Flor y Canto. Photo by Diana Manzo.
For thousands of years, the indigenous Zapotec people of Oaxaca managed periods of drought by digging wells to replenish the aquifer. After the Mexican government banned indigenous water use for agriculture, in preference to industries like mining, water resources dropped critically low across the Central Valley.
The visionary indigenous activist Carmen Santiago Alonso combined ancient and contemporary practices to bring the land back to life. Under her leadership, over 300 absorption wells were dug, and 100,000 trees were planted to capture the moisture that allows the region to flourish today.
After decades of political and ecological activism, the Mexican government formally recognized the collective rights of the Zapotec community to manage their water in 2019.
The Waters of Ccotataqui
The community of Ccotataqui in celebration of water - for themselves, their crops and livestock, and for its continuation on earth.
Alpaca herding, the primary source of livelihood for indigenous communities in Peru, is threatened from climate change.
After years of observing changes in the landscape, the community of Ccotataqui, Peru identified water as a main concern for the future. Elders looked towards the young people to build partnerships, envision solutions, and take action for this vital element and sustainer of life- water.
The young leaders created a grassroots association, ASODEBICC (Asociación para el Desarollo y Bienestar de la Comunidad de Ccotatqui), and worked with various US partners to develop a four-phased plan that combines traditional ecological knowledge and western techniques.
Completion of Proyecto ‘Cruz Pata’ for water retention. Water is also returned to the earth in the ancient conservation technique of ‘amunas’, or recharging of the groundwater.