Earth Day celebrated in the Gila River Indian Community

May 4, 2018

Christopher Lomahquahu

Gila River Indian News

Earth Day took over Ira. H. Hayes and Matthew B. Juan Memorial Park in Sacaton on April 19, with a large crowd of students and GRIC departments including the Department of Environmental Quality celebrating the environment with presentations and informational booths. 

Lt. Gov. Robert Stone welcomed the students and attendees and encouraged them to look the Community’s past as inspiration for caring over the land now and in the future. 

Liberty Wildlife, a non-profit animal rehabilitation organization, brought a red tail hawk, peregrine falcon and turkey vulture to educate students on the environment. 

Gila River royalty also presented on the importance of environmental conservation and how it relates to traditional teachings. 

In a separate Earth Day activity, students at Sacaton Middle School learned how math and science play a vital role in maintaining a sustainable environment. Just in time for Earth Day students from SMS took to the schools’ orchard to plant citrus trees. 

The citrus trees, donated by Greenfield Citrus Nurseries, were delivered to the school during a morning segment that was aired on Channel 3 and included on-air TV personality Dave the Garden guy to help with the project. 

Alberto Alaniz, Math Interventionist and Agricultural Club Coordinator, said the tree-planting project prepares the students for a career in agriculture. 

With an orchard, comes responsibility, said Alaniz, because it requires the student’s attention and maintenance.  It is also beneficial because agriculture combines lessons of math and sciences.