During this session, Aaron Lowden of Acoma Farm Corps, shared his deep knowledge on seed keeping and seed rematriation. His organization, Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, is based out of Acoma Pueblo, Navajo Nation, Zuni Pueblo, Hopi-Kykotsmovi, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the organization's mission is to pass down agricultural knowledge embodied by centuries of sustainable stewardship through hands-on, experiential learning. 

Aaron joined our Peruvian colleague Elena Pardo, a Peruvian teacher, who, along with a group of colleagues from rural schools, has been accompanying three rural Quechua communities in a ceremonial activity called Watunakuy, which takes place every year in June on the date of the (Peruvian) winter solstice (around June 21st), and who will be sharing out a video of their work. Watunakuy, is a Quechua word whose cultural meaning relates to the regeneration of life and spiritual ties between humans, deities, and Nature in the endless cycle of existing in this world. In the Watunakuy, strength, affection, respect and collective rituality are shared and transmitted, renewing the commitment to live a life of balance that honors the sacred.