SEVERE DROUGHT IN THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES IS THREATENING NAVAJO-CHURRO SHEEP POPULATIONS!
The Southwestern US is experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. As of April 2018, more than 85% of the geographic area of these states has experienced extreme to exceptional drought conditions, and the last four months, the drought worsened, as we went into the dry hot windy months of May and June. By August, the summer monsoon moisture that replenishes the landscape did not arrive in most areas of the southwest deserts. These conditions have brought catastrophic levels for the small stockholders, including some of the last herds of the original Navajo-Churro Sheep which are mostly kept by shepherds in the Southwest.
Of the millions of people affected by the devastating western drought of 2018, smallholder shepherds and herders in the southwest are among those at most risk -- losing their means of self sufficiency and tie to their cultural roots -- their sacred Churro sheep.
The non-profit Navajo Sheep Project - Serving People -- Preserving Cultures knows the cultural and environmental significance of the Churro sheep and hopes to safeguard them through the drought by means of emergency aid. As the current crisis outstrips the shepherds' ability to cope on their own, The Investments in Resilience is committed to helping the shepherds meet immediate needs as well as protect animals most vulnerable to starvation and confiscation. The campaign, Investments in Resilience -- Drought Relief For Original Old-Type Churro Sheep, launched on April 25 partnering with the 501(c)3 non-profit Navajo Sheep Project and a coalition of shepherds, Hispanic and Navajo weavers, artists and volunteers are asking for your support to help supply much needed hay, feed and salt to the herders that have original old-type Churro sheep. Most of these shepherds live a simple lifestyle and include Navajo, Hispanic as well as other breeders, all safeguarding the landrace Churro and all affected by the drought in the Southwest.
Through donations and in-kind feed, we hope to raise enough forage and emergency aid to sustain the churro sheep through the drought.
Original Old Type Churro Sheep and the Navajo Sheep Project
At the heart of the NSP's objective for the last 41 years is preserving and breeding back the landrace Navajo Churro Sheep, through a systematic and scientific conservation program with the nucleus flock. The NSP supplies outreach and extension type education and assistance and support through mentor flocks and apprentice programs. The NSP's most notable accomplishments include the reintroduction and deployment of Churro sheep to the people of the Southwestern United States and the technical assistance in the development of successful Navajo and Hispanic agricultural cooperatives. This in turn has created a resurgence in developing both Navajo and Rio Grande style weaving in the Southwest which historically used Churro wool.
The original old type Churro sheep, is a desert landrace, and is unique from other breeds in that it has been the adapted regional livestock with traditional cultures and pastoralists of the southwest desert regions for around 550 years.
Like other traditional pastoralists, the Southwest shepherds and their sheep maintain and nourish the integrity of their individual cultural identity, the local economy, preserve regional ecosystems and hold the oral traditions that keep their cultures together.
Locally adapted livestock breeds like the Navajo Churro Sheep carry genetic material of immense value. They have been an inseparable element of the religion, art and way of life of the people in the region for hundreds of years. These sheep must be conserved along with the cultures that rely on them.
Threat To The Desert Landrace Churro Sheep
Even though the Original Old Style Churro Sheep can withstand extreme conditions, the 2018 drought in the Southwest is shaping up to being one of the worst in our recent history. For the first time in our recorded history, there has been little to no snowpack in any of the mountainous high country in the southwest. This life-giving precious moisture provides nourishment for desert ecosystems throughout the dry windy spring and early summer -- as well as supplies water for irrigation throughout the west.
Already by early March, the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas have declared drought disaster zones. Most areas of the SW are previously taxed by years of prior drought. As of July 1, the drought has created an impossible situation for these shepherds to keep their Churros alive. What this means for the landrace churro sheep is little to no forage in already overgrazed rangeland habitat and scarce hay supplies. To complicate matters, the ewes have lambed which requires a higher level of nutrition to support themselves along with fast growing lambs. Scarcity of hay has also made it difficult, even where feed is available, for shepherd’s to afford the higher prices. Since lambing, the ewes have not recovered and with little to no summer rains, they will be going into the fall and winter without any fat reserves. Throughout the summer we have been informed of ewes not being able to sustain their lambs, lambs dying. The ewes being pulled down by lack of forage and trying to feed their lambs do not have the strength to travel far distances for forage. Now going into fall and winter when the temperatures on the reservation are extreme, these ewes without adequate nutrition will die of exposure and malnutrition.
"Without intervention, there's a real possibility this year that herds will be lost to starvation, sold off to slaughter and/or confiscated by livestock officials."
THE INVESTMENTS IN RESILIENCE PROJECT IS TRYING TO SAVE THEM
As the human population changes, rare landraces like the Churro sheep will have to take on a more significant role in rangeland management especially in desert ecosystems. The Churro sheep’s unique habits and characteristics make it an important breed globally as a solution to successful rangeland management.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP
100% of money raised during this campaign will go to the purchase of essentials the shepherds will need to sustain their flocks through the driest times or until rains regenerate the range. These essentials include delivery of emergency fodder, water and minerals. These supplies will be crucial for the most traditional isolated shepherds and the elderly herders that cannot sustain their herds with no range grass or water. Most of the time it's these sheep that allow the shepherds to be self sufficient.
Our plan of action is:
1. Locate the shepherds that have flocks. In the large and often isolated areas of the Navajo Reservation the numbers of Churro sheep are currently unknown. A census is needed to determine how many Navajo Churros are on the reservation, who is in most need and how to reach them. To facilitate this, traditional shepherds are helping to reach out to other shepherds on the reservation. Also important is the need to identify traditional Churro flocks owned by Hispanic and Anglo herders who might also be in need of assistance. By doing this, we are building a coalition of cultures, races and backgrounds of people, all coming together to save a breed of livestock that is integral to the history of the US. The strength and courage that has emerged so far with this cooperation, in such a demanding time, rises above race and belief. As of October 2018, there are 80 shepherds and approximately 700 Churro sheep participating.
2. Secure funding and feed sources. It is imperative that hay sources be located and secured as soon as possible. Currently, hay sources are rapidly being bought up by brokers and individuals as the drought worsens and hay supplies diminish. The search for available feed continues to widen out into neighboring states and hay production for this summer has be greatly curtailed due to water shortages.
3. Secure temporary housing for herds that are most at risk. Temporarily housing sheep with other knowledgeable shepherds may be necessary to keep important genetics alive.
Louise Goh of the Tł'izi lani ManyGoats Clan born for Kinyaa'áanii The Towering House Clan
Louise and Ruth are among the the many elders that still shepherd Churros and need our help.
Ruth Benally of the Naa kaii Dinéé The Mexican Clan born for Tł'ááshi'i The Red Bottom Clan
How you can help:
As of October 2018, we have found and assisted 80 shepherds. Because of lack of monsoon rains, our job of keeping these sheep alive until we can assist with long term solutions is just beginning.
We feel if we do not assist, we will lose vital genetics to keep this important land race sheep from possible extinction. With the loss of the original Churro sheep, we lose a vital part of the ecological and cultural diversity of the Southwest. This irretrievably takes along with it a wealth of knowledge of the domestic livestock and in turn creates an erosion of knowledge that safeguards healthy ecosystems.
To learn more about the individual stories of the Navajo Shepherds affected by the drought go to:
originalchurrosheep@gmail.com
Or Contact for more information:
Jennifer Douglass - Project Director - Investments in Resilience - Drought Relief for Original Old-Type Churro Sheep
575-313-4893
Credits:
Michael Benanav