Episode 1 - Our Land: Where tradition meets tomorrow

In this episode of “Pass the Sopapillas,” we share a conversation with New Mexican environmental advocates who are working to protect air quality, defend water rights, restore Indigenous seed sovereignty and erase environmental racism. Learn how these changemakers are helping build healthier communities for New Mexico families and children. CHAPTER 1: New Mexico’s legacy of land 00:00 — Welcome to "Pass the Sopapillas": A poetic introduction to land, culture and resilience in New Mexico. 00:25 — Voices from the Episode: Themes of seed sovereignty, environmental justice and home. 00:47 — Episode overview: Exploring land through culture, utility and sacred meaning. 01:11 — Why land matters: Land as memory, history and community connection through traditions like acequias. CHAPTER 2: Seed sovereignty and cultural preservation (Aaron Lowden) 02:42 — Introduction to Aaron Lowden: Seed sovereignty and Indigenous food systems work. 03:41 — Why Seeds Matter: Loss of farmers, loss of seeds and seeds as “ancient technology.” 06:32 — Repatriation of seeds: Bringing ancestral seeds back from institutions to communities. 06:52 — Mentoring the next generation: Youth engagement and farming as cultural identity. CHAPTER 3: Regenerating seeds and protecting biodiversity 08:28 — Community seed banks: Managing 500+ varieties of ancestral seeds. 08:57 — The Blue Corn Story: Recovering, protecting and regenerating Acoma blue corn. 10:30 — Farming as stewardship: Genetic diversity, resilience and long-term seed care. 11:53 — Sopapillas & culture: Food as tradition and everyday practice. CHAPTER 4: Environmental justice and community health (Dr. Virginia Necochea) 12:17 — Transition: From land and seeds to environmental systems. 13:11 — Meet Dr. Virginia Necochea: Advocacy for clean air, land and water. 15:46 — What is environmental justice?: Equity, health and systemic change. 16:57 — Personal story: Growing up connected to land and labor. 17:54 — Policy and impact: Air quality, public health and holding industries accountable. 20:21 — Sopapillas story: Learning New Mexico traditions the hard way. CHAPTER 5: Reimagining systems through land and community (Eli Cuna) 20:50 — Transition: From justice to imagination and future-building. 22:02 — Meet Eli Cuna: Immigration story and first sopapilla experience. 22:49 — Remembering our connection: Land, spirituality and reciprocity. 24:05 — New Mexico as abundance: Culture, belonging and redefining scarcity. 25:17 — Building new systems: Farms, food access and youth workforce pathways. CHAPTER 6: Changing the system and learning from nature 26:43 — “Changing the matrix”: Rethinking economic and social systems. 27:18 — Storytelling and power: Educating stakeholders and shifting perspectives. 28:13 — Youth and nature: Inspiration through connection to the land. 28:51 — Lessons from nature: Reciprocity, resilience and unconditional connection. CHAPTER 7: Closing reflections and call to action 30:22 — Gratitude and reflection: Celebrating community, culture and shared work. 31:50 — Final message: Stories as seeds and an invitation to collective change.