Last month, the Arizona Community Foundation announced that Audubon Southwest, along with Medio Completo artists and the Gila River Indian Community’s Huhugam Heritage Center, was selected as one of five teams to win the Water Public Art Challenge.

Given Audubon’s advocacy for healthy rivers and lakes, as well as the wildlife, habitats, and people who depend on them, we applied for one of the $50,000 prizes to complete an art installation and experience called “We Are Still Here.” Our team, called Vesich eth ve:m (All of Us Together) will complete this project over the next year.

We will weave together stories of Huhugam history and continued connection to the river, recent human migration leading to the growth of the Salt and Gila River Valley, and the birds and wildlife who depend on these rivers. This multi-disciplinary, experiential art event, which will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2019, will allow us to have a community conversation about our complex history with these rivers, our water future, and one another. The event will likely include soundscapes, sculptures, murals, film projections, bookmaking, as well as performance and a culinary presentation. To see news coverage of the announcement, visit the Arizona Republic’s story as well as their story on the Huhugam people. More details to come!