TOWÜK KANI (WE ARE HOME), 2023

Joshua trees (yucca brevifolia) are known as tsawarümp (tsah-wah-ROOMP) in our Chemehuevi language. They are living entities, ancient spirit beings in our shared ancestral homelands of the California desert. Deeply valued by our people for their ecological and spiritual significance, they are now endangered due to development, wildfire, drought, and climate change. Without increased protections by state and federal governments, our Joshua trees will likely disappear from our homelands by the end of the century. Working closely with my community, I am an activist in inter-tribal efforts to defend our sacred homelands.

This image was taken at sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park during an introspective pilgrimage to a sacred area while seeing my father through the end of his life. The experience among these giants was medicine for my broken heart and restored my life energy.