Amanda Subish’s family carries a remarkable story about Uncle Maurice Magante, a member of the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians and a survivor of the 1977 Tenerife airport disaster.
In a tragic twist of fate during his honeymoon, his plane collided with a Dutch aircraft, resulting in a catastrophic fire.
Uncle Maurice was grievously burned, with over 90% of his body affected.
As he navigated his way through the burning wreckage, he managed to drag his unconscious wife toward an opening, only to be blown off by an explosion.
While Maurice lost his wife in the crash, his survival was attributed to something extraordinary: his upbringing and the Indigenous foods he consumed.
Lenora Cline, Subish’s mother, recounts how doctors at the burn center in Dallas were amazed by Maurice’s healing abilities, which seemed to surpass those of typical burn victims.
Curious about his remarkable recovery, medical staff learned about his childhood diet rooted in traditional Indigenous practices, particularly his near-daily consumption of ‘wiiwish,’ a thick acorn porridge.
Cline reflects, “At that time, processed foods were never something that our people could afford, or even knew what that was, because we were hunters and gatherers.”
This connection to traditional foods and ecological knowledge has come to symbolize the resilience of Indigenous culture and the importance of preserving it.
In contemporary times, Amanda Subish and Lenora Cline continue to honor this heritage through educational initiatives.
They are actively involved in sharing the ecological wisdom that has been passed down through generations, highlighting the significance of caring for the land that nurtures them.
On Saturday, they participated in the “Honoring Indigenous Knowledge for Land Conservation” event at The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon as part of San Diego Climate Week.
This week-long event is a platform for over 100 community gatherings focused on finding equitable solutions to climate issues that involve diverse stakeholders, including Indigenous activists, scientists, and policy makers.
Subish, who once served as the garden supervisor at Pauma Tribal Farms, elucidates on the importance of Indigenous knowledge in modern practices.
Although she has transitioned away from the farm, her experiences there were deeply rooted in promoting food sustainability for the community.
Under her supervision, the farm produced fresh vegetables exclusively for tribal members and youth programs, addressing the knowledge gap about traditional foods among younger generations.
“This gap from my grandma to my mom and then to me was significant,” Subish said, explaining how many younger community members lacked familiarity with traditional plants and foods.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a crucial moment for the farm, allowing Subish to bolster food security within the Pauma community while teaching them about the benefits of fresh produce.
She recalls a particularly productive time when she grew over 100 pounds of lettuce mix and more than 1,000 pumpkins for distribution to local tribal members.
Through her experiences, Subish has also recognized the necessity of fostering a reciprocal relationship with the Earth.
Her teachings are intertwined with traditional practices that emphasize respect for nature and our responsibilities toward it.
Additionally, communicating with plants and offering prayers became part of her daily routine on the farm, merging traditional ecological knowledge with modern agricultural techniques.
One pivotal moment came when she asked the plants what they needed to thrive, demonstrating a deep-seated belief that there’s a dialogue to be had with nature.
At the San Diego Food System Alliance’s Annual Gathering in August, Subish engaged in a dialogue about the essential roles Indigenous people hold in shaping sustainable food systems.
During this discussion, she advocated for Indigenous leadership in conservation efforts and emphasized the need for collaboration between Native and non-Native communities.
“Not everyone has that cultural upbringing,” Subish noted, recognizing that some individuals may struggle to connect with the land as Indigenous people do.
She explained the need to ground these discussions in cultural understanding, aiming to bridge gaps between communities and foster shared goals for land stewardship.
Amanda pointed out that the connection to the earth is often latent within individuals; for her, it was about reigniting this innate understanding.
Subish acknowledged the historical trauma that has influenced relationships with the land, emphasizing the necessity for cooperation and dialogue to heal and work together.
She described a scenario where non-Indigenous farmers might seek to purchase land for agriculture and how that requires mindfulness of its historical context.
“Be a little bit mindful of what was there before,” she advised, stressing the importance of acknowledging the territory’s past while pursuing future agricultural ambitions.
In a live podcast episode at The Water Conservation Garden, Subish is excited to share local tribal resources for resilience and what resilience means in the context of land conservation.
“I see resilience as bridging the gap between non-Native and Native communities,” Subish reflected.
Her vision for resilience revolves around collective effort, emphasizing the blending of perspectives and cultural insights in addressing conservation efforts.
As she navigates her own cultural connections to the land, Subish remains dedicated to passing along the knowledge acquired over generations, ensuring it’s not lost to time.
The legacy of Uncle Maurice serves as a testament to Indigenous food practices and ecological wisdom that can sustain future generations in health and harmony with the earth.
Through events and educational programs, Subish, Cline, and their community aim to revive traditional ecological practices, showing that Indigenous knowledge is not just historical but crucial for future resilience against climate change.
image source from：sandiegouniontribune
