LA WALKS OF RESILIENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT – APRIL 2023

By The Walking Water Collective

We just completed our third set of day walks in LA, in collaboration with the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission (OVIWC). We walked with many questions, including: What is our current focus? What is our responsibility to and for these  waters? How do we take care of ourselves along with our communities, the water and the land? How do we listen for guidance, listen to the water? And be part of restoring healthy relations?

With the increased amounts of rain and huge snowpack up in the Sierras, many are being asked to focus on water in a different way – on finding solutions for huge run-off, on learning and helping to manifest more ways of slowing, retaining, spreading and sharing the water. Many of us are facing continued dangers and potential damages that will likely be caused in the melt ahead. We are aware of the beauty and abundance, as well as the grief with all the water that has come. We are questioning many of the  structures created to protect that are also, we feel, part of the problem.

Over the 2 days, April 14th and 15th, we walked with roughly 60 people who together contributed to a growing sense of community. With each voice, perspective, song and prayer we’re brought closer to a wider vision and deeper understanding of why things are the way they are and also what possibilities are emerging for them to change. 

On Friday we were welcomed and joined by Tongva Elder, Tina Calderon and Director of ARLA, Andy Lipkis. OVIWC staff,  Kyndall Noah, Rosanna Marrujo and Big Pine OVIWC Commissioner Paul Huette drove 9 hours from the California Tribal Water Summit in Sacramento to join us, yet again taking great time and care to share the stories of those whose lands and waters have been usurped throughout history and more recently and continuously by the Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power.

And the WW team showed up strong with Gigi Coyle, Orland Bishop, Kate Bunney and Justine Epstein with Teena Pugliese as media support; all traveling from near and far to keep walking this path.

Some of the highlights:

*The weather … a beautiful cloudy day on the Friday made for an easeful walk 

* A sunny clear day on Saturday to continue the journey 

*The potluck picnic supported by @51miles, a group planning to walk the length of the LA river.

*The vitality of the water in the river and the life that continues even through the concrete to thrive 

* The animals and birds, especially those 3 Egyptian geese who responded to our attention and came to greet us 

*The many inspiring conversations and connections made with people all dedicated to the care of the waters ….

*The gifting of our Walking Water walking staff to elder Tina Calderon that has made its way to LA after passing through so many hands since first being gifted by Kathy Bancroft and Charlotte Lange during the pilgrimage in 2016.

*The children that joined us … helping us keep at our center why we walk with water

What a blessing to be walking with tribal leaders, historians, gardeners, filmmakers, activists, educators, artists – youngers, middlers and olders at this potent time in the water story.

Teena Pugliese created a short montage of some of these voices to give you more of a taste of our time on the river. You can watch HERE

Our intention is to offer these Walks of Resilience and Accountability along the LA River again  in September …. In the meantime, may we spend the time listening to that which we love and depend on for life. May we do our part each day we wake and take a drink …whether that is cleaning up the trash, changing some of our ways, joining in education, art, “resoiling” repair and remedy needed, the legal or political actions, living in greater integrity with all we have and are learning… 

We send our gratitude to ARLA for the financial support that makes these walks possible, as well as the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission for their steadfast and ongoing partnership… along with all those that walked with us. Thank you for being a part of Walking Water.

Orland Bishop

“There are many lessons to learn and memories to recover during our walks with the waters of the Los Angeles River. Among the lessons is the realization that we continue to change each time we return to the river and reflect on our own inner need to become hosts for some meaningful change. The river is time in motion, moving between what was and what is becoming.  It reflects our higher perception for meaning and reverence for the old stories that renew our hearts and minds for life’s higher shared purpose.  

The river can serve as a guide for our longing to cross limits and dream into expanded fields of creativity and promises from another time.  This is to mean, the river is water and more than water, it is time- past, present and future.  It is life and all that comes from life.  Our walks are intended to be restorative, regenerative and reflective of our common good to hold life in our full awareness and honor the sacred.  Thank you for being present in remembering water, the Los Angeles River and our communal life.”