End of Semester Reflections Spring 2026

Dr. Karletta Chief, Director

Cross-border Indigenous Regenerative Agriculture Knowledge Exchange and Movement Building 2026

IRes started 2026 with renewed energy. We had a tough 2025 dealing with several grant termination that took a big hit on our IRes team. We were delighted to receive collaborative grant with Cultural Survival entitled “Cross-border Indigenous Regenerative Agriculture Knowledge Exchange and Movement Building.”

As part of this grant, in January 2026, IRes went to the Yucatán with Cultural Survival and our tribal partners. The overall goal of this grant is to restore kinship ties, strengthen community capacity and sustainability, and revitalize regenerative agricultural knowledge exchange across the U.S. Southwest and Mexico. These lands were once interconnected through vibrant trade and cultural networks but is now divided by language and restrictive border policies. IRes and Cultural Survival aspires to work towards reclaiming shared histories and build a more unified, resilient future.

There were approximately 40 international Indigenous farmers & advocates who traveled from the mountains and remote areas of Mexico and Arizona to travel to  Yucatán, Mexico. We arrived at the Mayan Ecological Agricultural school U Yits Ka'an (UYK) where they teach sustainability, growing food, harvesting honey, traditional medicine, seed banking, water harvesting, conservation, garden to table dining, Mayan culture and language and more. 

U Yits Ka'an is an expression in the Yucatecan Mayan language that means “Dew that falls from the sky.” The headquarters are in the Mayan community of Maní, Yucatán, Mexico. Founded on January 11, 2006. It also has two alternate locations: Peto and Valladolid, from where it supports farming families, and a space for the sale of agroecological products in Mérida, Yucatán.

“UYK is an educational and liberating process, whose focus is agroecology. In this multidisciplinary project, farmers, academics, Catholic priests, and former students come together with the sole aim of supporting, preferably, farming families and/or people interested in promoting ecological agriculture as a sustainable way of life. We seek to empower the people we interact with to be agents of change in their communities and/or promoters of Another Possible World, and therefore, of another form of agriculture that is healthier, more ethical, based on climate and intergenerational justice, and that favors the self-determination of the Mayan people. Our goal is to promote Good Living among Mayan peasant families, contributing to food sovereignty and ecological awareness, for the defense and care of our Common Home.” “

The U Yits Ka'an Mayan school is off grid using solar panels, bio-gas from pig manure, has their own well, does composting on-site and grows their own food. The Escuela made us delicious and healthy food at every meal. The food was delicious and I had many dishes I never ate before. I loved their hibiscus, orange juice, grapefruit and lemonade drinks which were made from scratch. It was wonderful to learn about their sustainable practices and to be part of their sustainable living while we were there for several days. 

“UYK supports a fledgling network of eight families and three educational centers in implementing the use of alternative energies through the extraction of water with solar panels for various agroecological uses. It also promotes the use of native pig manure to produce methane gas and avoid contaminating the soil and the environment.”

I was honored to hear UYK’s founder, Atilano Ceballos Loeza, over these several days. He has a vision to uplift his Mayan people and speaks about Indigenous resilience. The Mayan civilization was devastated by Spain and the Spanish burned their books. To further cause pain, Spain used the remnants of the Mayan buildings they destroyed to build Catholic churches. U Yits Ka'an were able to find a book that was in a museum in Spain and they deciphered it. In it they found the story of the bees. Mayans are guardians of the bees. Atilano has won many international humanitarian awards. U Yits Ka'an is deeply immersed in their Mayan language, culture and livelihoods. The school is unique from any tribal college in that the U Yits Ka'an practices, integrates and exhibits sustainable practices on campus and brings the people to the campus and goes into the community. The school also has a native seed repository and storage for community seed saving. U Yits Ka'an is an example for all Indigenous communities and Native Nations in the U.S. I encourage tribal leaders and tribal colleges and universities to visit this Escuela. One day I hope see this type of school in Arizona! UYK truly has Indigenous food sovereignty. 

Story Video by Karletta Chief

https://youtu.be/5yQV_1moFZ4?si=NfQVmCiLcw54RuyQ

“Atilano Ceballos Loeza is one of the founders of the Escuela de Agricultura Ecológica (School of Agroecology) U Yits Ka'an in Maní, Yucatán. He is a Catholic priest and part of the Regional Office of Mayan Theology. He advises schools of agriculture and was part of Yakanal, a space for cultural exchange between Maya and other Indigenous communities in the United States of America. He is a Melipona beekeeper himself and coordinates Project Kuxan Suum, which works to raise endemic pigs and Melipona bees in 16 communities in the region. He is an enthusiast of agroecology and the rights of Mother Earth.”

I learned so much about guarding the Melipona bees from the Mayan people. The Melipona bees gather pollen in their homes located in palm trunks or in wooden boxes. The bees make a wax to protect insects from coming into their homes. These native bees do not sting and they pick their queen bee. The Mayan culture has bee stories documented in their books for centuries and still carried on today by the people. We were able to tour the Melipona bee keeping, learn about it, open the bee hives and taste the pollen.

The school as traditional herbalist and training on the campus. They shared how they teach about traditional medicine. We also learned about a medicinal balm that is made from a local medicine that helps with body aches. U Yits Ka'an made a book on their herbal medicines. 

“A network of 13 women and men from the interior of the state linked to UYK, who promote herbal medicine and ancestral knowledge about medicinal plants; care for the health of their rural communities and empower themselves with ancestral knowledge on this subject.”

Throughout our time, there the Indigenous and tribal partners shared their work in their communities focusing on traditional knowledge, food sovereignty, colectivos, community resilience, cultural preservation, storytelling, and songs. I was honored to meet Makawi from Raramuri Community in the Sierras of Chihuahuas and many other relatives from Mexico! We created a stronger bond to our tribal partners from Arizona. It was truly a memorable and life changing experience. We left U Yits Ka'an feeling as a family with promises to keep in touch and to meet again in each other’s communities. This was IRes’ second international exchange, and we are learning so much and excited to grow our relationship with our international relatives. The Indigenous attendees keep in touch over What’s App and those in Arizona have continued to stay in touch and even exchange seeds. In April 2026, IRes hosted Dr. Hector Ortiz Cano (Yoreme) from the Chicago Botanic Garden who spoke at the Native Voices in STEM. He visited Tito Romero co-founder of Flowers and Bullets in Tucson, AZ who also went to the Yucatán. Tito started a grassroots effort to reclaim space in their barrio that has grown into a community-driven movement grounded in sustainability, self-determination, and creativity. They began with murals, compost, and a dream—building from what we had, block by block. We had a wonderful visit to Flowers and Bullets with Dr. Ortiz Cano. We also visited Amy Juan at the San Xavier Co-Op. 

The San Xavier Cooperative Farm is an 860-acre Tohono O’odham farm located in southern Tucson, AZ that dedicated to food sovereignty and cultural preservations growing traditional crops like tepary beans, 60-day corn, and cholla buds. Amy who also attended the trip to the Yucatán was a tremendous leader for the U.S. tribal partners group sharing knowledge 

To continue this Cross-border Indigenous Regenerative Agriculture Knowledge Exchange, IRes and Cultural Survival are planning a virtual symposium this summer, and we are continuing to look for funding to do a follow-up cultural exchange. We thank Cultural Survival and all the Indigenous relatives for allowing us to be part of this Cross-border Indigenous Regenerative Agriculture Knowledge Exchange and look forward to continuing to contribute to the Indigenous Food Sovereignty movement!

Walk in Beauty,

Dr. Karletta Chief, Director

Indigenous Resilience Center

Daniel Sestiaga Jr., Assistant Director

As another semester comes to a close, I cannot help but express gratitude for all that has transpired over the past several months. As a Center we have been able to engage with communities across the Southwest and have a renewed sense of purpose. Purpose for our work and all the things that we as relatives hold near and dear to our hearts, mind, and spirit. I am truly grateful to have been surrounded by an amazing team and enthusiastic students who are ready to make their mark on the world. To the IRes Student Team: it has been a pleasure these past few months, and for some, the past several years, to be a part of your educational journey, and I cannot express the joy and pride that I have felt while witnessing this important milestone in your lives. I pray that you all continue to be blessed and pray for strength and courage as you continue on! Spring 2026 has been good and I am excited to see what summer has in store for us all. -Danny

Bernice Rodriguez, Program Coordinator

It’s hard to believe another year has already gone by, honestly, it feels like I was just writing my 2025 reflection. This past year was filled with many meaningful moments both personally and professionally. One of the biggest highlights for my family was celebrating my oldest son, Dominic, as he graduated with his Master’s degree, passed his program requirements, and began his PhD journey and, proposing to his longtime girlfriend, Jazmyn. Through IRes, I also had the opportunity to be part of meaningful experiences including the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Sign Unveiling at the Koffler Building and attending the Women and Water Convening in Tuba City, attending the Centering Justice Symposium, all of which reminded me of the importance of Indigenous representation, community, and resilience. Another unforgettable moment this year was graduating alongside four of my IRes colleagues. Being able to celebrate this milestone together reflects the support system we have built within our team and community. Balancing work, school, family, and community responsibilities is never easy, and I truly could not have done it without the support of my family, my community, and the entire IRes team. I am deeply grateful for every conversation, opportunity, challenge, and moment of encouragement this past year has brought, and I look forward to continuing this journey with gratitude and excitement for what is ahead.

Torran Anderson, Community Outreach Manager 

It is wonderful to have the opportunity to step back and reflect. So much happens during the course of a semester that when summer arrives, it is a chance to catch our breath, reflect, and plan where we want to go. What I’m most excited about moving forward is expanding the resources that are available to community members. The Native Voices in STEM series has been running since 2018, and can be watched on the hub. We will be adding resources to this website in the coming year: https://ireshub.org/ 

2026 kicked off with joining UA collaborators at Tribal Legislative Day in Phoenix, and traveling to a powerful knowledge exchange in the Yucatan with Cultural Survival. Native Voices in Film returned with the Return of Navajo Boy, and we were honored to celebrate the work of Elsie Mae Cly Begay. I was fortunate to participate in events related to the grants I work on, including the Native FEWS Alliance, the Transformation Network, the Superfund, and the Waverley Street Foundation. 

It was amazing to attend the Planet Forward Summit in Washington, D.C. with the Indigenous Correspondents Program (ICP). Ten storytellers from Tribes across the United States shared stories of their community, we learned from sessions, and weathered an unusually warm DC. This program was founded by Alexander Cotnoir and JoRee LaFrance to meet a need for Indigenous-focused storytelling within Planet Forward's correspondents program. They have developed an amazing program of peer mentorship and dynamic speakers, including Dr. Kimmerer and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. This year, Alexander is stepping away from the program. I am grateful for all the time, energy, and dedication that Alexander has put into the program. It is inspiring to see the dedication of the next generation of leaders. While we look for future funding to continue ICP, I want to thank the dynamic leadership of Alexander Cotnoir, JoRee LaFrance, and Ivey-Camille Manybeads Tso. They remind me of so many of you I have met throughout the year who are working tirelessly to support community members. I’ve needed this inspiration. Time and time again, we heard from the IRes Community Environmental Impact Award Grantees who continue the work, grow food, and provide resources no matter what. I’m grateful to have been a part of this journey and to see so many people who focus their efforts on what they can contribute. Thank you for all you have shared. 

Christina Gargus, Grant & Project Coordinator

It has been another wonderful and busy semester at IRes! We kicked off the year in January with a trip to the Yucatan for an Indigenous Regenerative Agriculture Exchange. Continuing our reach across international borders, we collaborated with Cultural Survival for a convening that brought together members of Indigenous communities from Mexico and the U.S. to exchange knowledge and inspiration on Indigenous regenerative agriculture in a changing climate, including strategies on water security and food sovereignty. It is exciting to see the potential for what lies ahead for continuing these relationships. In March, I had the privilege to participate as a panelist among environmental justice leaders at the Centering Justice Symposium 2026: Meeting the Moment – Energy, Resilience & Our Collective Power. The roundtable titled “The People’s Environmental Justice (PEJAC) Model: Building Collective Power & Readiness from the Ground Up”, focused on what it means to build national platforms differently: starting locally. Sharing my experience from the Tucson People’s Hearing last Fall, I felt honored to be able to convey the words of wisdom shared to me by the late Dr. Selso Villegas. He will be greatly missed. This Spring I had the opportunity to visit the Fort Mojave Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community, White Mountain Apache Tribe and Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe to learn more about their environmental programs and make new connections. As we move into the summer, I look forward to getting busy with planning for the activities and events to come in the new academic year and getting more sunshine and time outside! 

Katie Holtsoi, Senior Assistant to the Director 

This past academic year I was out in the community and working at developing my professional skills at various trainings and conferences. I participated in a facilitator training hosted by Southwest Decision Resources (SDR) and gained great new skills in facilitation. I have been able to apply that knowledge to various events we have hosted this year and I believe it has strengthened my ability to support my team in all that we do. I did a lot of learning this year, especially when it comes to data sovereignty and AI. I attended the Wiring the Rez conference hosted by ASU in downtown Phoenix and heard from numerous tribal leaders, directors, federal officials, students, and scientists. I gained a new understanding of tribal communities’ relationship with AI. After leaving that conference I can firmly say that we must do everything to educate ourselves on the impacts of AI and the systems that supply it, and continue to fight for what our ancestors fought for, especially if that means being the first to say no to the integration of harmful systems onto our people. 

My most memorable times connecting with the community this year were at the Speak Easy- Speak Free People’s Hearing here in Tucson and during the center’s visit to the Ft. Yuma Quechan community. I had the great honor of being able to hear dozens of Tucsonans speak freely about their concerns, thoughts, pleas, demands, and prayers for their community. An experience I will always cherish is hearing the personal testimony from the late Dr. Selso Villegas. 

He always spoke as if the next seven generations were in the room with him; with great humility and an insurmountable conviction to protect Mother Earth. His testimony honestly blew my mind because he verbalized a worldview that I have always held and he showed me that it is possible to embody. Honest humanity and commitment to doing well for one’s people, in spite of all that tries to prevent that. I recall he spoke of “mind traps” which he described as the manipulation of human thought to control our worldview and outlook on our ability to do good for one another. He emphasized this because often we tell each other that nothing can be done to stop the “inevitable”. Whether that be the colonial systems in place, the carceral systems in place, the extractive systems in place…he refused to give any amount of his mind and spirit to that kind of rhetoric.

The more I engage with the center’s partners and community members, I find myself being enlightened and educated. And Selso imparted wisdom that will forever inform the way I view this world, and his character is something we can all carry forward. 

Another experience I had this year was on the Ft. Yuma Quechan Reservation in Yuma, AZ. I attended with center staff and had a great tour of the reservation and their waterways. On top of this, we had the honor of participating in the Ft. Yuma Kwatsan Youth Gathering. Any time we get to engage with Native youth, my heart beams. You can read more about our time there in this newsletter. Overall, the past year was a great learning experience for many areas of my work and a year of wonderful exchanges with the communities we serve. I am optimistic and hopeful for the future of our work and I am excited to see what blossoms next. 

Ruth Pannill, Research Professional 

The Spring semester passed in the blink of an eye, but was full of so many people and moments to be proud of. This semester, I had the honor of co-leading the second cohort of NFEWS Student Ambassadors with Lisa Vandever (AIHEC). The group consisted of Indigenous students from undergrad to PhD students, coming from communities across the hemisphere. We were able to host mentoring sessions with Native faculty about topics such as the proposal & writing processes and relationality in research. The students also did presentations about their FEWS (food-energy-water) experiences. I'm so proud of all of the students involved and am looking forward to continuing the program next semester. I was also able to visit the Ft. Yuma Quechan Nation with some of our team - there were many presentations and discussion about potential collaborations, but my favorite part of the trip was going on a tour of the Nation's water landscape (namely the Colorado River and All American Canal, as well as a water treatment facility) with their Water Technicians Frank Venegas & Monty Montague. As some of our grants wind down, I'm looking forward to continuing my research work, as well as the work and collaborations on the horizon.

Renee Tsinigine, Post Doctoral Research Scholar

As the 2025-26 school year ends, we reflect on the many activities the Indigenous Resilience (IRes) Center has embarked on. From successful meeting facilitations, co-hosting, event co-sponsorships, and community collaborations, the team at IRes has worked to ground their work in the 4R’s. Respect. Responsibility. Relationality. Reciprocity. The 4 pillars amplify the work that IRes does to create culturally grounded events for all the communities they serve. 

Two examples of this phenomenal Indigenous research and scholarship can be found with the Spring ’26 Native FEWS Alliance book club discussions and Indigenous research studying the socio-impacts of mining on the Navajo Nation. 

The work exemplifies IRes’ commitment to discussing books by Indigenous leaders and scholars such as The Water Remembers by Amy Bowers-Cordalis. The book club was co-facilitated by Dr. Ren Freeman who is Indigenous faculty at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT. and Dr. Renee Tsinigine who is a NIEHS T32 Fellow and Post doc at the IRes. 

The three discussions provided opportunity to meet and engage with the author. With the help of Native FEWS Alliance faculty, professional staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students learn more about tribal issues and concerns of Indigenous people. The highlights of the book club were learning about the author’s personal experience and journey into writing about one of the most recent and current historical Indigenous legal cases in the protection of the water and salmon. 

It was part memoir and part history lesson where readers learned of Indigenous historical responsibilities and the success of one family’s fight to protect their ancestral way of life. The significance of The Water Remembers helped the Native FEWS Alliance to learn a little bit more about the challenges between conventional Western views and Indigenous people’s ancestral ways of life and food sovereignty. Other discussion points shared about the values and importance of relationships and reciprocity which created dialogue on ways Indigenous people thrive in today’s world. 

The second example of IRes’ continued work out in Indigenous communities is the current research on the Socio-economic and Health Impacts of Coal Mining and Well-being of Diné Residents Living within the Peabody Coal Leasehold Area using the Diné Health Model led by Dr. Renee Tsinigine and supervised by Dr. Karletta Chief. The study has been approved by the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board (NNHRRB). The study was presented to the Kayenta and Forest Lake Chapter Houses and is currently in data analysis after 7 listening sessions were conducted last fall in November. Preliminary results have been presented to community members who participated in the listening sessions and to the NNHRRB. 

Research for the Black Mesa study integrates and follows Diné philosophies that center Indigenous knowledge systems and ancestral ways of knowing. The study practices research protocols as defined by the NNHRRB and works to maintain community voices as active participants who are engaged with the researchers and leading this work which emphasizes the importance of the principles and practices of Indigenous research methodologies. With Diné bizaad interpreters and community collaborations, the work is conducted in relationship with participants and research foci centered on the voice of the people from these two chapters. 

The study is currently in data analysis with a proposed research conference presentation submitted to the NNHRRB. If approved, the study will be presented at the Navajo Nation Research Conference held at Diné College in Tsaile, AZ., on the Navajo Nation. 

Through Indigenous research practices, IRes continues to work beyond outreach with Indigenous communities by also partnering with non-profits such as Black Mesa United and Grand Canyon Trust. The study follows Indigenous research practices in a broader academic and professional context to amplify the voices of the Diné people who have been living with and working in climate resiliency and well-being on Navajo Nation. 

For more information or questions on either the book club discussions or the Black Mesa study and research, please email Dr. Tsinigine at rtsinigine@arizona.edu. 

Nicolas Littleman, Desk Assistant 

As I reflect on my time working at IRes, I am incredibly grateful for the experiences, opportunities, and relationships that have shaped both my personal and professional growth. From the moment I joined the workspace, I was welcomed with support, encouragement, and a genuine sense of community that made IRes feel like more than just a workplace. One of the most impactful parts of my experience was meeting so many individuals who are truly passionate about the vision and mission of IRes. Their dedication, teamwork, and drive inspired me every day and motivated me to continue growing within my own journey. Being surrounded by people who care deeply about innovation and creating meaningful change made my experience unforgettable. Beyond the workplace, IRes created opportunities for connection and community through events and get-togethers that allowed me to step outside of my field and learn more about technology and other industries. These experiences helped me expand my perspective, build meaningful relationships, and develop connections that I will continue to carry with me moving forward. I also want to highlight the memories made through the IRes League Basketball team. Competing together and making it to the quarterfinals was such a fun and rewarding experience that brought everyone closer together and strengthened the sense of teamwork both on and off the court. Most importantly, I want to thank the IRes staff for their understanding and support during difficult times. There were moments when I needed time away to recollect and refocus, and the compassion and flexibility shown to me during those times meant more than I can express. Having that kind of support system made a lasting impact on me. Now, as I prepare to graduate and take the next step in my career, I want to sincerely thank everyone at IRes for believing in me, supporting me, and contributing to my growth. I will always appreciate the experiences, lessons, and memories I gained during my time here, and I look forward to carrying them with me into this next chapter.

Winona Little Owl-Ignacio, Waverley Student Assistant 

We have done so much here at IRes but I am so appreciative when we get to do work with the community and for the community. I am forever grateful for the work that I get to do alongside my best friend Trinity Norris. These pieces and pockets of love built within these events make it worth it and it is so beautiful to see everything blossom together. This year especially, since many of us within IRes have graduated, it has been amazing to see all the love shown to us from our IRes familia. Shoutout to IRes, we appreciate the support and love. Thank you to everyone for taking a chance on the rez kids and believing in us. Sapo! 

Mira Busch, Graduate Research Assistant