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Spring 2002 Bulletin
Somos Vecinos Progress
Funded by the Ford Foundation, the project has been directed by a planning group of individuals representing a variety of interests. The group began with three and has grown to nine over the past year, as members invited others to participate. The planning group designed a three-day retreat in September of 2001 intended as a forum where different voices could explore the potential for working together toward specific water-related goals. They developed a list of forty-two retreat invitees, representing five categories – acequia, community, Pueblo/tribal, policy, and environmental. Twelve accepted the invitation, although several of these were unable to come. Cynthia Gomez, Albuquerque Project Director, has served as coordinator for Somos Vecinos, and Roberto Chené and Lucy Moore have been hired as facilitators for meetings and retreats as needed. Participants identified certain issues as key to achieving successful intercultural collaborations. These included: 1) project funding and foundation relationships; 2) status of participants as individuals, rather than representatives of organizations or government; 3) personality issues; 4) the history of colonization in New Mexico; Serious consideration was given to the categories and labels which surround acequia and landbased communities, and we gave recognition to the value and importance of these communities as a part of the dialogue. Coalition building and taking action meant building trust while working together. Also key is the availability and management of resources, which has been a historical concern for land-based communities. Potential Projects: Initiating Dialogues:
The Somos Vecinos Project was born at an Amigos Bravos retreat four years ago at Ghost Ranch, where a group of 40 water users, including many acequia and tribal individuals, urged the organization to focus on its role as a ‘bridge-builder’ between environmental and land-based interests. In response, Amigos Bravos took the initiative in developing a proposal to address water policy issues in New Mexico through support of collaborative working relationships between acequia, environmental and Pueblo interests. Amigos Bravos staff worked with a member of the NM Acequia Association and the Program Director of the All Indian Pueblo Council Office of Environmental Protection in the development of the proposal.
2001 September Retreat:
Somos Vecinos held a 3-day retreat where participants took turns talking about their expectations for the retreat, and their particular interest in or connection to water in New Mexico. This story-telling extended into the evening, around a campfire after dinner.... for some later than others!
5) organizational histories, and 6) different agendas, sometimes conflicting, sometimes overlapping.
Somos Vecinos Criteria and Principles:
Retreat participants developed a beginning list of criteria that any potential collaborative project should meet. These criteria could serve as a model for those seeking to build alliances between environmentalists and land-based communities. To date the list has been shared with the Alliance for the Rio Grande Heritage, 1000 Friends Rural Initiative, and Plaza Resolona Training, and will be posted on the Water Dialogue web page. The criteria are that:
• Funding should be handled in an equitable, accountable way; funds should be shared; foundations should be educated to the extent necessary.
• All voices relevant to the project should be included; none should be excluded.
• Any project should support, and be compatible with, relevant regional water plans.
• Any project should be an environmental/land-based community cooperative initiative, conceived and funded jointly.
• Any project should recognize the important and central role of land-based communities in preserving the quality of life and characteristics of the landscape of New Mexico.
• Successes should be built on and supported by any new project.
• Projects should be do-able, win-able and measure-able.
• Any project should build capacity in communities, as the communities see the need.
• Any project should further intercultural communication and understanding.
As potential common-ground projects the group created a list which they believed might reflect common agendas among environmentalists and land-based communities. Four ideas were discussed: Capacity Building; Regional and Water Planning; Legislative Initiatives; and Education of Foundations on Intercultural Policy Projects.
At the November meeting, David Benavides offered valuable insights to Somos Vecinos members about “Area of Origin Protection” and water
banking, and voiced strong concern about the proposed Santa Fe City/County water diversion project. As a result a meeting was arranged with the Alliance for the Rio Grande Heritage to discuss acequia concerns about the diversion and the potential for an initiative that would be mutually supportive. The meeting demonstrated that neither side need give up their agenda, and that it is crucial to talk early in the process before positions are dug in.
Capacity Building:
December and January meetings reflected the increasing need to prioritize capacity building of land-based communities and their organizations. A March meeting will focus on foundation funding for a capacity building project. The planning group will keep in mind the dual needs of land-based communities and environmental organizations, working on substantive issues while building trusting relationships. Possible roles for Somos Vecinos include serving as a link among the various capacity building efforts, monitoring progress and promoting the ‘model’ criteria and principles to other collaborations.
Please return to the Spring 2002 Bulletin Index.
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