WATER IS LIFE

For the Diné people, the practice of water hauling goes back thousands of years and for some, is still a focal point in their lives on the Navajo reservation today. Often, many take the journey for water by traversing remote and semi-remote landscapes, embodying a profound connection to the earth and its resources. From nurturing seeds into crops, its presence in ceremonies, and its role in maintaining balance of good health and wellbeing, water serves as the lifeblood for all Indigenous peoples. These images were taken in the Fall of 2023 for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. As part of the Diné Household Water Survey project, JHCIH is exploring water access and testing water quality to ensure this sacred element is honored Indigenous families and communities.