Acequias: Lifelines of the Land

In this episode, Ennedith is joined by Patrick Jaramillo with AFSC, Jorge Garcia with CESOSS, and community member Xazziel Martinez for a powerful conversation on acequias—the communal irrigation systems that have sustained New Mexico’s land and people for generations.Together, they break down what acequias are (yes, we spell it out!), share the cultural and historical significance of these systems, and reflect on their personal connections to acequia communities. The guests talk about how climate change is impacting water and traditions, the importance of shared scarcity and shared abundance, and why acequias are essential to any serious conversation about climate justice.They also get real about the threats acequia communities face—from state policies to corporate co-optation of grassroots work—and what it means to defend ancestral knowledge in the face of systemic injustice.To close, each guest offers a message to young people and future generations about protecting water, land, and culture.Tune in for stories, reflections, and calls to action rooted in community and resistance. Follow @yucca.nm on Instagram for more episodes, and stay connected to the fight for water justice.