An original poem about ancestral land and water, written and performed by Olivia Romo.
This video is part of the We are Water story collection. These stories explore the diverse experiences and unique perspectives about water from people who live in the Four Corners Region of the Southwestern United States. To hear more stories or share your own story about water, visit the We are Water website.
Olivia Romo is a poet, spoken word artist, and water rights activist from Taos, New Mexico, whose work focuses on the cultural importance of water in Northern New Mexico’s acequia communities. Raised in a family deeply tied to land and heritage, she uses her dual degree in English and Chicana/Chicano Studies to blend creative expression with social advocacy. Her bilingual spoken word work — including pieces like “Bendición del Agua” — has been recognized statewide, earning her the New Mexico Slam Poetry Championship in 2011 and features in major publications. She continues to support water rights through work with organizations like the New Mexico Acequia Association and currently lives in Pojoaque and works in Santa Fe.
We Are Water (WAW):
Water, critical and scarce in the Four Corners Region, connects local communities through our shared place and unique stories.
We are Water (WaW) brings a traveling exhibit and interactive programs to rural communities in the Four Corners Region of the U.S. and engages community members in conversations about their personal and community connections to local water topics. Libraries in rural areas, which often function as the local science center, will host the exhibit, programs, and STEM experiences in their communities.
Visit our website at WeareWater.Colorado.edu to view activities and hear recorded stories about water from people across the Four Corners Region.
