Maria del Carmen Parra Cano and the other founders of the Cihuapactli Collective, an Indigenous- and women-run organization in South Phoenix, are growing cultural, spiritual and physical nourishment, literally from the ground up. In recognition of Native American Heritage Month and the Thanksgiving season, we are pleased to share their story.
“This morning we greeted the sun. We want to acknowledge the changing seasons, acknowledge the elements—the rain, the fire, the wind, the Earth—and then just be thankful for these lands, these fruitful lands.”
Those are the words of Maria del Carmen Parra Cano as she stands with her children, surveying the community food forest she is helping nurture in south Phoenix, a territory that, before development and gentrification, was once rich with fields, orchards and vineyards. Parra Cano is the co-founder and executive director of the Cihuapactli Collective, an organization of Indigenous women supporting maternal health, cultural education and food justice.
“The work of the Collective is what we like to consider ‘from womb to tomb,’” says Parra Cano. “And seeing the value of having accessibility to food, and accessibility to water and accessibility to resources be what supports our families at the core.” The food forest her group tends is one of the few places in the region that is cultivated to directly feed the local community.
LISC has extended a $57,500 grant to the Collective to help them develop a strategic plan to guide their future activities around “womb to tomb” wellness and education. The funding, from the Kroger Co. Foundation, is also assisting a range of organizations working to advance racial equity in the food system.
LISC is working with groups in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Memphis that are collaborating with farmers, restaurant owners and other entrepreneurs of color to help them grow their food-based businesses. Other partners, including the Cihuapactli Collective, are using the grant money to grow their capacity to help people access affordable, healthy and culturally significant food.
As we come to the end of Native American Heritage Month, and enter the season of Thanksgiving, we are grateful to be able to partner with organizations like Cihuapactli, whose dedication, energy and vision are helping build a more just, joyful and nourishing world.