Where We Stand Is What We Stand For

Growing Justice and Belonging through Community Action

Elena Valdés Chavarría

Undertones of iridescent green and blue highlight feather textures; a sun crescendoes behind brightly colored plumage. I detail the final paint strokes for my latest mural in Mérida. A pájaro toh : protagonist of many Mayan legends, emblem of pride and royalty, mischievous in character and astute in demeanor.

This is my latest work on an exterior wall, and it was one that brought back many nostalgic memories and good-old reminiscing. Muralism, as a tool for community-building and justice action, has been such a big part of my life, and in recent years I have been somewhat removed from this art medium.

I grew up in Sonora by the Sea of Cortés in México, a perfect combination of arid landscapes and pacific waters, the incredible duality of desert and ocean. Daughter of two avid biologists, my childhood was filled with adventurous trips and excursions. We explored and visited remote areas jointly protected by the collective efforts of local and international leaders whose aim was to safeguard the land and its people.

This introduction from a young age to conservation efforts in the Gulf of California led me to devoting a significant part of my life to promoting the value of traditional knowledge. As a kid, I was able to share my childhood wonders with rural communities working towards natural resource management and conservation, and I witnessed alongside them the outcomes of gradual social reform.

In undergraduate internships with the communities’ elementary-age children I examined the dynamics within established alliances between the Mayo, Yaqui, and Guarijio tribes in partnerships and programs led by Pronatura Noroeste, a non-profit organization invested in researching rural development and education. This complemented my undergraduate and graduate programs which included summers of volunteer work aimed at emphasizing creative self-expression through artivism, using strategies focused on social justice and cultural celebration to bridge formal and non-formal youth environmental education programs.

Since I left México in 2012, my work with the pueblos of Sonora continued over the summers through Determined Art Movement, a non-profit organization I co-founded that seeks to open dialogues concerning global issues; wielding the cathartic qualities of art to heal our communities and give people an opportunity to engage in collective expression within contrasting environments. Most recently, this web of connections continues to grow and the ways in which I engage in parallel efforts now includes outdoor education.

I am now experiencing and witnessing nature and people through a different lens and taking a deeper dive into a parallel field from which I had been previously somewhat removed, particularly in terms of the outdoor industry! My experience of nature has always been one of enthusiastic curiosity, humble exploration, compassionate self-discovery and deep respect, and this new chapter of space-sharing and learning opened my eyes to not only the truly astounding bonds one can create being in nature with fellow humans, but also the internalization of confining systems that shape our thinking and dictate our ways of living in society.

The duality of these contrasting phenomena was bewildering, and even though the progression of detaching oneself from the shackles of imperialism was evident (especially in longer excursions), this progress is slow and thus demands unwavering commitment, compassion, and imagination.

The outdoor industry as experienced through our current system assigns values based on capitalism’s scarcity mindset, which encourages competition against one another for resources.

Unfortunately, this is also seen within our own affinity communities. However, there are many radical ways in which we can combat these destructive aspects of capitalism and use our privilege to lift others up instead. Recognizing that the outdoor industry has a long history of racism and discrimination as legacies of colonialism, it is imperative that we remember that creating opportunities for others will not take them away from you, but instead have the opposite effect.

Addressing scarcity means choosing a mindset of sufficiency in experiences, contexts, and declarations; it is understanding that there is enough and that we are enough.

Collectively reimagining our world, in a critical and loving way, is a tangible alternative. Now as the Executive Director of the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, I am reminded every day of the strength we hold in community, and the value of honoring our roots (in every meaning of the word) as a gift to be celebrated and shared with others.

This dream may not necessarily be far-fetched. Already in Benton County (and beyond) we are crossing a threshold through radical mobilization to shift paradigms and foster a new sense of place and belonging: a community where everyone is both a teacher and a learner; where the local tribes are honored, respected and uplifted; where displaced indigenous peoples from around the globe are able to find a new home that welcomes them with open arms; where the international and local communities bridge long-lasting friendships and our overall narrative is one of profound nurturing and collective care, all inextricably connected to nature and holding space for vibrant livelihoods in the Willamette Valley.

Where we stand is what we stand for.

As we continue to dream and build this future together, it is imperative that we keep the perspective of accessibility at the forefront. The human interconnections resulting from these shared spaces will inevitably create scenarios of tension: life/death, soaring freely/unknown skies, expanding/collapsing, building/fading, defeating the unknown/helping a friend.

We are here now, we belong, feet firmly planted on the land we stand on.

The title of my mural in Mérida is “Rival del Sol” (Rival of the Sun); not necessarily because either entity is competing to shine the brightest, but because they live in harmony with each other through the reflection and refraction of light.

As that traveling light bends and changes direction, so may we: hope flowing and light growing, connecting us all to each other and the land. We mirror one another in our richness as radiant beings of light and energy. In legends, the pájaro toh is known for guiding lost travelers to fresh water in the rainforest, embodying humbleness and kindness. So must we care for each other and the world around us.

Take pleasure in this transformation – individual and collective. Acknowledge all versions of yourself, and tread gently yet reassured.

And if you’re ever in the Benton County area, stop by the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center and embrace the warm scent of a cup of tea shared with someone from far, far away, who, just like you, stands here and now for the conservation of our cultural and environmental legacies.

~Elena Valdés Chavarría (ita)

Elena Valdés Chavarría (ita) is the Executive Director of the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center (CMLC). The CMLC’s mission is “Growing justice and belonging cross-culturally with international, immigrant, refugee, and intersecting communities.” They offer a multitude of cultural and educational resources and host language and cultural classes and events for everyone in the community.

Greenbelt Land Trust and the CMLC are co-hosting a series of walks in local natural areas. Hike Together is a fun way to explore local natural areas and trails and an opportunity to build community with people coming together through the CMLC and Greenbelt.  Join us on May 19th for a walk at Cheadle Marsh/Pigeon Butte at Finley National Wildlife Refuge.