Stories from the Rez
These are the stories that inspire me—resilient stories of Indigenous farmers bringing land, food, and culture back to life. I did not author these articles; all credit goes to the original storytellers and publishers. I'm sharing them here to spotlight the incredible work happening throughout the rez. I hope these summaries, with clear attribution and links, foster understanding, and as a small business supporting local farming and land stewardship, I'm mindful to respect copyrights through brief quotes and proper citations.
This Is Life in America’s Water-Inequality Capital. It Might Be About to Change”
We're honored to have developed a conservation plan for Nolan and supporting his goal, achieving additional acreage for more production. From the article; Farming became his way to reclaim identity and land. As he shared in TIME:
“Most of the infrastructure is owned by the Navajo Nation—they have a monopoly. So farming is one of the only things a private citizen can do. Which is why I want to do it—to bring my family back to the land.” https://time.com/7019660/colorado-river-water-drought-navajo-nation/
Tó Nizhóní Ání – “Sacred Water Speaks”
Tó Nizhóní Ání, a Diné-led nonprofit founded in 2001 in Black Mesa (Dził Yíjiin), champions water and environmental justice for Navajo communities. They successfully led the campaign that ended industrial use of the Navajo Aquifer by Peabody Coal in 2005, and today they continue to defend vital water resources while advocating for a just transition from coal dependency toward renewable energy in Indigenous homelands. Their powerful message rings clear: “Tó bee iiná. Water is life.” Learn more here: https://tonizhoniani.org/
Stories & Insights That Nourish Our Land and Community
A collection of stories that ground regenerative farming in Indigenous wisdom, resilience, and renewal. Inspired by the spirit of Covenant Pathways’ blog approach—where film meets farming, policy meets practice, and culture meets cultivation—these narratives explore how traditional knowledge, regenerative techniques, and community leadership shape our shared journey toward food sovereignty and earth stewardship. Through stories of innovation, heritage seed revival, youth-led agriculture, and sacred land reclamation, each post invites reflection, connection, and action. https://covenantpathways.org/covenant-pathways-blog/
Ancient Waterways: Restoring the Earth, One Dam at a Time
In the dry lands of Black Mesa, Navajo families are bringing earthen berms and small stone dams back to life. Using woven brush and rocks to slow water flows, they restore watersheds—and with them, food sovereignty. Yale E360
Baby Food, Diné Style
Zachariah and Mary Ben started farming near Shiprock, NM, to craft fresh baby food from corn and local seeds, right where their toddler could run among sprouts. The Guardian
Next Generation: Youth Reconnecting to Agriculture
Darrell Yazzie, in Klagetoh, AZ, began farming under his mother’s care and refined his skills at Diné College. Now, he’s regenerating Indigenous farming techniques and inspiring others across the Four Corners. Grand Canyon Trust
Red Earth Gardens: Growing in the Garden
Located in Ganado, Arizona, Red Earth Gardens is a vibrant community learning site rooted in Indigenous and regenerative practices. They focus on Southwestern native crops while introducing new varieties adapted to the high desert environment. Their annual Community Garden Startup brings people together for hands-on workshops—like transplanting seedlings and stone fruit trees—which has helped triple the garden’s size over the years. https://redearthgardensaz.com/garden
The Power of Asdzáán in Agriculture: Navajo Women Leading the Way
Recent data from the Native Land Information Project shows that over half (53%) of the agricultural producers on the Navajo Nation are women—a stark contrast to national trends, where Native women represent about 46% of operators, and non-Native women only about 33%. This powerful statistic underscores the enduring matriarchal tradition of the Navajo Nation, where Navajo women (“Asdzáán”) continue to steward land, community, and cultural knowledge with strength and resilience.
Read more: nativeland.info – The Power of Asdzáán in Agriculture.
“Navajo Food Traditions Tap into the Past and Future of Farming the Arid Southwest”
In communities across southeastern Utah, people are restoring Navajo food traditions—reviving desert-adapted crops and re-planting orchards of Southwest peaches that once flourished in the Four Corners. Plant scientist Reagan Wytsalucy is dedicated to preserving these resilient seeds, some dating back to before forced relocations disrupted Indigenous food systems. While historic agricultural infrastructures were decimated—swept away during the Long Walk and Bosque Redondo—today’s growers are honoring those memories. Each fruit tree planted, and every garden bed tended, brings more than nourishment—it brings healing, cultural continuity, and a form of food sovereignty rooted in ancestral knowledge.
Read the full story at KUER: Navajo food traditions tap into the past, and future, of farming the arid Southwest