Walks of Resilience and Accountability: LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles, situated on Tongva territory and home to other Indigenous tribes, is one of the most populous cities in the United States. It boasts one of the largest metropolitan economies in the world but relies heavily on other areas of California for 85% of its water supply. The primary sources of water imported to LA County include the State Water Project, the Colorado River, and the LA Aqueduct. The first LA Aqueduct, built in 1913, stretched nearly 250 miles to Payahuunadu (The place where the water always flows), known as Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierras. By the 1920s, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power had taken significant land and water rights from the Nuumü/Newe (Paiute Shoshone) peoples of Payahuunadu, leading to unresolved water rights issues and ongoing conflicts to this day.

Climate change has heightened the urgency for Los Angeles and surrounding communities to become resilient, particularly regarding water sufficiency. The impacts of severe droughts, earthquakes, year-round fire risks, extreme heat, and flooding underscore the need for local water sources. This raises critical questions: “Where does our water come from?” and “Why does it not come from local sources?” How can I support the people from these regions? Understanding the current and historical impacts on the places and peoples from which the water is taken is essential to understand the whole story.

In collaboration with members of the Tongva community and the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, Walking Water will host two one-day walks in Los Angeles City in October 2024. With these walks, we hold ourselves accountable to learning, listening, and being a good relative, thereby empowering the voices of those fighting injustices. By actively participating, we foster a deeper understanding and commitment to support the communities affected by water appropriation, ensuring their struggles and stories are heard and respected. These walks also aim to explore Los Angeles' path to water independence, the impacts on the Paiute and Tongva peoples, and how we can collectively build a resilient LA and support communities everywhere. May Los Angeles become a model for others in becoming accountable and responding appropriately to this climate emergency for future generations.

Join us as we walk together to envision a paradigm shift in consciousness to respect our relationship with water. Water is ceremony, relationships, sacredness, health, and life. Water is everything. Walking with water signifies respect, responsibility, and awareness of its importance to all our relations. For us, water is a sacred relative we must protect, respect, and honor. When we walk, our connection with water deepens, and we reaffirm our commitment to these principles and toward a future that honors and supports all communities.

LOGISTICAL DETAILS:

Dates: October 26th, 2024

Times: 10am to 4pm each day

Route: TBA

Walk distances: roughly 5 miles or less each day, along the LA River

Guides: The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission and Walking Water

Walker’s Contribution: This offering is by donation.

Resources

We highly recommend taking time with these resources before joining the walks.

*The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission website

*The Three Creeks Collective

*Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center

*Paya – the water story of the Paiute .. only available on DVD

*The Aqueduct Between Us

(banner photo: Peter Bennett/Citizen of the Planet Photo)