‘We’re all connected:’ Ak-Chin event highlights environmental care

For Roman Orona, watching elders and children from the Ak-Chin Indian Community exchange seeds and plant trees Friday morning wasn’t just another Arbor Day celebration. It was a symbolic moment for the generations.

“Elders are treading the path for the next generation,” said Orona, environmental programs manager for Ak-Chin Indian Community. “It’s what elders have always done. They lead that path and then pass it on to younger generations to plant the seeds for the rest of the community to be able to utilize.”

Early in the event, elders unveiled a new seed exchange box at Milton Antone Memorial Park, just before a crowd of children placed seed packets inside. This box will be permanently installed in the park to allow community members to give and take seeds for their personal gardens.

The intergenerational group also planted two ficus trees in a grassy area of the park to provide shade and reduce carbon dioxide.

“As we look at urban sprawl here, we’re losing more and more ways for contaminants in the air to be absorbed,” he said. “Trees have become scarce (here), so we’re adding back those natural filters that Mother Earth has.”

As Earth Month draws to a close, reintroducing trees and exchanging seed packets are small acts that have larger impacts for the environment and culture, according to Orona.

“As an Indigenous person, we’re always taught about the environment,” he said. “Our stories, our songs, our dances are related to the environment. (We learn) that everything is circular, that we’re all connected.”

“That’s what this was about: giving back to Mother Earth and recognizing her for the things that she gives us,” he said.