From 2025: The Land is the Leader

I shared these reflections before our 2025 service project with the Weed Warriors team at Yosemite National Park, where we learned about cheat grass - where it came from, why it's here, what it looks like, and why we are removing it.

In the shadow of Tutokanula (El Capitan), beside the Merced, beneath the Moonbow - this was a lesson in listening. A return to relationship. A love letter to the future.

🎧 Watch/listen to the reel for the full story.

"The Land is the Leader"
Written and Narrated by @sydney.stardust
Video by @maker_of_vibes
Visuals courtesy of Mother Nature

📍The Ahwahneechee Miwok have had strong ties to the land and water, with specific names for features like Half Dome (Tis-sa-ack) and El Capitan (Tutokanula). They lived in villages throughout the valley and surrounding areas, using the resources of the land for sustenance and cultural practices. To this day, their descendants advocate for their sovereignty and work with the park to share traditional ecological knowledge, customs and ceremonies, skills and stories.