Book Review
By Deborah Martinez Martinez
Somos Agua is a treasure for everyone who is or wants to be a Water Protector.
Author and artist Belinda Garcia, aka Manuko G. Garcia, began as a tribute to the Water Protectors at Sanding Rock, ND. In whole, the honoring included paintings on silk executed by several Colorado communities. The art currently resides at El Pueblo History Museum in Pueblo.
In 2017, a training initiative in the San Luis Valley addressed historical trauma. From that training, Garcia initiated the intergenerational silk painting mural to educate communities on the importance of clean water.
The first mural on silk was created in Saguache, CO, by students and adults from Center, Saguache and Crestone. Supporters were Sister of Color United for Education and HEART (Promotor@sisters of Color United for Education), Health Education Art Leadership (HEAL), Denver, and with support from paint producer Jacquard Products.
Four additional murals were created in Jefferson County, Sheridan, and Westwood communities in Denver by intergenerational groups as part of workshops. That was 2018 to 2022.
In the book, each of the five chapters focuses on a different aspect of protection for water and water creatures, and includes an interactive section with questions or an invitation to write a short poem, to color or to draw. “Keep Learning” opportunities are offered with QR codes or by the Parrot.
The text is in English with Spanish, Nahuatl, or Hawaiian words for water. Garcia says, “During the creation and participation in the Somos Agua Mural Project, the artists became aware that protecting the water was an act of social justice.”
She said, “I wanted people to know we are all in this together, Somos Agua is our opportunity to show kindness to ourselves, to others and the Mother Earth, Tonantzin. I wanted this project to open the eyes of everyone. It is our responsibility as good stewards to protect the water.”
The 56-page book Somos Agua is available in Pueblo at El Pueblo History Museum ($28.), with free viewing of the silk mural above the front door.
