On March 11, 2025, the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s Solidarity Hour welcomed Rev. Andrew Black to share the story of the Caja del Rio—an ancient and sacred landscape outside Santa Fe, New Mexico—and the growing grassroots movement to protect it.
Rev. Black, Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe and founder of EarthKeepers 360, serves as a leader in the Caja del Rio Coalition. This diverse alliance includes Pueblo spiritual leaders, environmental advocates, traditional land users (such as acequia communities and ranchers), elected officials, and people of faith—united in a commitment to protect over 100,000 acres of culturally, spiritually, and ecologically significant public lands.
The Caja is home to more than 4,000 petroglyphs—some thousands of years old—as well as rare desert wildlife, volcanic canyons, and sacred rivers. For generations, Indigenous communities have come to this land for ceremony, healing, and sustenance. Today, it faces growing threats: vandalism, illegal dumping, off-road vehicle abuse, and the looming risk of extractive development.
“This land is a church to many,” said Rev. Black. “If someone bulldozed a sanctuary or shot at stained glass windows, we’d be outraged. But this is happening to sacred petroglyphs—irreparable cultural texts carved into stone. The desecration must stop.”
While the Caja del Rio Coalition has secured key victories—such as protection of over 10,000 acres of state trust land—efforts to win permanent federal protection have repeatedly stalled. The coalition continues to call for national monument designation, grounded in Indigenous leadership and vision.
Rev. Black emphasized the role faith communities can play in this movement: “This isn’t just a New Mexico issue—these are America’s public lands. We need your voices, your prayers, and your advocacy.”
How you can act:
- Learn and share. Visit www.cajadelrio.org and www.earthkeepers360.com to learn more and sign up for updates.
- Speak up. Add your voice to the movement by signing the petition at ProtectCajaDelRio.com.
- Support Indigenous-led work. Amplify Indigenous voices, follow their lead, and resist actions that sideline or tokenize Indigenous communities.
- Pray and take faithful action. Let your concern for God’s creation shape both your worship and your public witness.
Supporting Indigenous communities begins with listening—deeply and humbly. As Rev. Black reminded us, building coalition is not about smoothing over differences, but holding space for truth, history, and the dignity of every community: “Let’s not sugarcoat things. Let’s be honest. Let’s be vulnerable. And let’s build trust through real relationships.”
The struggle to protect the Caja del Rio is about more than land. It is a call to reweave relationships—with creation, with history, and with each other. May we answer that call with courage, humility, and unwavering faith.
Watch the recording of the Solidarity Hour gathering on “Activism to Protect the Caja del Rio as a National Monument”
Register for future Solidarity Hour gatherings
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