Civic Engagement: Meeting with Our Representative
Central to HECHO’s mission, is to empower Hispanic leaders to engage in the conservation of our public lands while working with local Hispanic leaders in the protection of healthy watersheds, clean air, and robust wildlife habitats to fulfill our duty to conserve and protect lands and waters for future generations.
In October, we worked with the office of U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Luján to schedule a meeting to share information about our work, and share our perspectives and stories about what we’re seeing on the ground as it relates to climate change, and other important issues. Joining the meeting with HECHO staff would be HECHO Advisory Board Chair, Rock Ulibarri; San Miguel County Commissioner for District 2, Janice Varela; Santa Fe County Commissioner for District 1, Henry Roybal; and Santa Fe County Commissioner for District 3, Rudy Garcia.
During our meeting, the Congressman welcomed us, and enjoyed hearing the real stories we shared about the way our community is experiencing the impacts of climate change. Rock Ulibarri shared an anecdote about how stark the differences have been in snowpack, and how shocking it was to witness the lack of it this year in the Sangre de Cristos. We raised some of the important issues we have been advocating on, such as wildlife habitat connectivity corridors, and the Land Grant and Acequia Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act, and the Congressman let us know where he stood on these issues, and gave us an update on where some of the important pieces of legislation are. He was receptive, and steadfast in his encouragement to work together to move these issues forward, and shared how valuable the input of New Mexicans on policy is a top priority for his office.
Congressman Luján stated that he was pleased to hear directly from HECHO members about our support for efforts to protect wildlife corridors, preserve our traditional land practices, and deploying broadband to rural communities. He said:
“Seeking the input of New Mexicans on policy is a top priority for me. I was pleased to hear directly from HECHO members about their support for efforts to protect wildlife corridors, preserve our traditional land practices, and deploy broadband to rural communities. HECHO understands that doing so will build economic opportunity while protecting the land we’ve been entrusted to steer. I look forward to continuing to work with HECHO in pursuit of these shared goals.”
Though it wasn’t a traditional, in-person visit because of the safety precautions we are taking as a health measure against COVID-19 (see our D.C. trip to advocate for LWCF here), we are still appreciative of our time with Congressman Luján, and I feel particularly proud of our team, who spoke passionately as they lead in each of the topics we wanted to discuss.
In what is now our new virtual reality, it is still critical to share our concerns for our future by speaking with our elected representatives. I look eagerly ahead as we work to continue to preserve our culture and our nation’s public lands.
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