Reagan Wtysalucy

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Reagan Whitesalusi was eight years old. when her dad told her a story. How centuries ago, at the four corners where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet, there were thousands and thousands of peach trees.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Reagan Whitesalusi was eight years old. when her dad told her a story. How centuries ago, at the four corners where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet, there were thousands and thousands of peach trees.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Reagan Whitesalusi was eight years old. when her dad told her a story. How centuries ago, at the four corners where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet, there were thousands and thousands of peach trees.

But some escaped that ordeal. Among them, as Reagan later learned, her third-generation great-grandfather, Chief Hoskinini.

But some escaped that ordeal. Among them, as Reagan later learned, her third-generation great-grandfather, Chief Hoskinini.

But some escaped that ordeal. Among them, as Reagan later learned, her third-generation great-grandfather, Chief Hoskinini.

For four years, Hoshkinini stayed hidden, subsisting on peaches and food stores in the canyon. He raided the cavalry camps to steal livestock and he rounded up feral livestock that remained so that when those who survived the poor conditions of Bosque Redondo returned, Hoshkinini could help them replant peace trees and other crops and essentially rebuild their lives.

For four years, Hoshkinini stayed hidden, subsisting on peaches and food stores in the canyon. He raided the cavalry camps to steal livestock and he rounded up feral livestock that remained so that when those who survived the poor conditions of Bosque Redondo returned, Hoshkinini could help them replant peace trees and other crops and essentially rebuild their lives.

For four years, Hoshkinini stayed hidden, subsisting on peaches and food stores in the canyon. He raided the cavalry camps to steal livestock and he rounded up feral livestock that remained so that when those who survived the poor conditions of Bosque Redondo returned, Hoshkinini could help them replant peace trees and other crops and essentially rebuild their lives.

Today, the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. And when Reagan was in college studying agriculture, she told her advisor all about these heirloom peaches.

Today, the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. And when Reagan was in college studying agriculture, she told her advisor all about these heirloom peaches.

Today, the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. And when Reagan was in college studying agriculture, she told her advisor all about these heirloom peaches.

Her dad, who told her about the peaches and their significance to the Diné people, encouraged her to pursue this research too. But there was a problem. In 2013, when Reagan began this project, there weren't that many peach trees left.

Her dad, who told her about the peaches and their significance to the Diné people, encouraged her to pursue this research too. But there was a problem. In 2013, when Reagan began this project, there weren't that many peach trees left.

Her dad, who told her about the peaches and their significance to the Diné people, encouraged her to pursue this research too. But there was a problem. In 2013, when Reagan began this project, there weren't that many peach trees left.

Today on the show, bringing back Southwest peaches. The race to recover an heirloom crop and bring together Indigenous knowledge with agricultural science. You're listening to Shorewave, the science podcast from NPR. Hey Shorewavers, Emily Kwong here. Before we get back to the show, I have an update about planet Earth. It's almost completed.

Today on the show, bringing back Southwest peaches. The race to recover an heirloom crop and bring together Indigenous knowledge with agricultural science. You're listening to Shorewave, the science podcast from NPR. Hey Shorewavers, Emily Kwong here. Before we get back to the show, I have an update about planet Earth. It's almost completed.

Today on the show, bringing back Southwest peaches. The race to recover an heirloom crop and bring together Indigenous knowledge with agricultural science. You're listening to Shorewave, the science podcast from NPR. Hey Shorewavers, Emily Kwong here. Before we get back to the show, I have an update about planet Earth. It's almost completed.

It's 365 days, six hour and nine minute orbit around the sun. Those six hours add up to an extra day every fourth year. And that's why we have leap years. And 2024 was a leap year, which means we had one more day this year to bring you stories about astronomy, scuba diving lizards, social media algorithms, the COVID endemic. Yes, not pandemic. How Rubik's cubes work.

It's 365 days, six hour and nine minute orbit around the sun. Those six hours add up to an extra day every fourth year. And that's why we have leap years. And 2024 was a leap year, which means we had one more day this year to bring you stories about astronomy, scuba diving lizards, social media algorithms, the COVID endemic. Yes, not pandemic. How Rubik's cubes work.

It's 365 days, six hour and nine minute orbit around the sun. Those six hours add up to an extra day every fourth year. And that's why we have leap years. And 2024 was a leap year, which means we had one more day this year to bring you stories about astronomy, scuba diving lizards, social media algorithms, the COVID endemic. Yes, not pandemic. How Rubik's cubes work.

What happens to your brain when you sleep extremely. All of that is possible because of you. Honestly, your monetary support of our work. Either through a classic donation or by joining programs like NPR+. With NPR Plus, you know this, you donate a small amount each month and get special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts.

What happens to your brain when you sleep extremely. All of that is possible because of you. Honestly, your monetary support of our work. Either through a classic donation or by joining programs like NPR+. With NPR Plus, you know this, you donate a small amount each month and get special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts.

What happens to your brain when you sleep extremely. All of that is possible because of you. Honestly, your monetary support of our work. Either through a classic donation or by joining programs like NPR+. With NPR Plus, you know this, you donate a small amount each month and get special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts.

Growing up as a member of the Navajo Nation, Reagan had never seen a peach tree, but she learned the stories. How the peaches were a vital food source. eaten fresh or boiled or dried in the sun and stored, how many tribal communities in the Southwest begin their spring dances when the peaches start blooming.

Growing up as a member of the Navajo Nation, Reagan had never seen a peach tree, but she learned the stories. How the peaches were a vital food source. eaten fresh or boiled or dried in the sun and stored, how many tribal communities in the Southwest begin their spring dances when the peaches start blooming.

Growing up as a member of the Navajo Nation, Reagan had never seen a peach tree, but she learned the stories. How the peaches were a vital food source. eaten fresh or boiled or dried in the sun and stored, how many tribal communities in the Southwest begin their spring dances when the peaches start blooming.

You're going to get sponsor-free listening bonus episodes and even exclusive and discounted items from the NPR shop. NPR Plus members, you help us continue to bring you stories about, gosh, lead water pipes, needle phobia, whale menopause, nuclear fission. If you've been sitting on this all year, maybe head into 2025 with NPR Plus in your back pocket. With your help,

You're going to get sponsor-free listening bonus episodes and even exclusive and discounted items from the NPR shop. NPR Plus members, you help us continue to bring you stories about, gosh, lead water pipes, needle phobia, whale menopause, nuclear fission. If you've been sitting on this all year, maybe head into 2025 with NPR Plus in your back pocket. With your help,

You're going to get sponsor-free listening bonus episodes and even exclusive and discounted items from the NPR shop. NPR Plus members, you help us continue to bring you stories about, gosh, lead water pipes, needle phobia, whale menopause, nuclear fission. If you've been sitting on this all year, maybe head into 2025 with NPR Plus in your back pocket. With your help,

We can keep this going every week, bringing you stories you're curious about, stories you didn't know you were curious about, stories that are fun to tell your friends, stories that make you think about your place in the universe. Join today. Go to plus.npr.org, plus.npr.org. That link is in our episode notes. Thanks for listening. Back to the show.

We can keep this going every week, bringing you stories you're curious about, stories you didn't know you were curious about, stories that are fun to tell your friends, stories that make you think about your place in the universe. Join today. Go to plus.npr.org, plus.npr.org. That link is in our episode notes. Thanks for listening. Back to the show.

We can keep this going every week, bringing you stories you're curious about, stories you didn't know you were curious about, stories that are fun to tell your friends, stories that make you think about your place in the universe. Join today. Go to plus.npr.org, plus.npr.org. That link is in our episode notes. Thanks for listening. Back to the show.

Reagan says there are a lot of reasons why Southwest peaches are in trouble at the Four Corners. There's land loss, water scarcity. As elders have passed away and their descendants have left the reservation, there's just fewer people to care for the trees and to pass on the traditional knowledge.

Reagan says there are a lot of reasons why Southwest peaches are in trouble at the Four Corners. There's land loss, water scarcity. As elders have passed away and their descendants have left the reservation, there's just fewer people to care for the trees and to pass on the traditional knowledge.

Reagan says there are a lot of reasons why Southwest peaches are in trouble at the Four Corners. There's land loss, water scarcity. As elders have passed away and their descendants have left the reservation, there's just fewer people to care for the trees and to pass on the traditional knowledge.

Reagan took her determination to revive the peaches all the way through a master's degree in plant sciences at Utah State University. Okay, so you set out into the Navajo reservation with your father and two Utah State University professors to track down, record, and collect seeds from the ancestral peach trees in the area.

Reagan took her determination to revive the peaches all the way through a master's degree in plant sciences at Utah State University. Okay, so you set out into the Navajo reservation with your father and two Utah State University professors to track down, record, and collect seeds from the ancestral peach trees in the area.

Reagan took her determination to revive the peaches all the way through a master's degree in plant sciences at Utah State University. Okay, so you set out into the Navajo reservation with your father and two Utah State University professors to track down, record, and collect seeds from the ancestral peach trees in the area.

And it was based on, like, your dad's memories of where he saw them growing as a child in

And it was based on, like, your dad's memories of where he saw them growing as a child in

And it was based on, like, your dad's memories of where he saw them growing as a child in

It took months, but finally, Reagan found seeds from an 85-year-old elder in northwest Arizona.

It took months, but finally, Reagan found seeds from an 85-year-old elder in northwest Arizona.

It took months, but finally, Reagan found seeds from an 85-year-old elder in northwest Arizona.

Reagan started going door to door throughout the Four Corners area, and in the last few years has gathered seeds from over half a dozen locations.

Reagan started going door to door throughout the Four Corners area, and in the last few years has gathered seeds from over half a dozen locations.

Reagan started going door to door throughout the Four Corners area, and in the last few years has gathered seeds from over half a dozen locations.

She wants to sample the genetics of as many regionally adapted peaches as possible. She estimates her team has grown nearly 300 trees from these heirloom seeds. But it's taken over a decade to get to this point. And, she told me, learning whole new ways of thinking that she just didn't learn in school.

She wants to sample the genetics of as many regionally adapted peaches as possible. She estimates her team has grown nearly 300 trees from these heirloom seeds. But it's taken over a decade to get to this point. And, she told me, learning whole new ways of thinking that she just didn't learn in school.

She wants to sample the genetics of as many regionally adapted peaches as possible. She estimates her team has grown nearly 300 trees from these heirloom seeds. But it's taken over a decade to get to this point. And, she told me, learning whole new ways of thinking that she just didn't learn in school.

The peaches were so important that they became part of a scorched earth policy to drive the people out. It happened in 1863, when the U.S. government ordered the Navajo, also known as the Diné, to leave their land, to move to an internment camp called Bosque Redondo. And Colonel Christopher Kit Carson led his cavalry regiment to cut down over 4,000 peach trees.

The peaches were so important that they became part of a scorched earth policy to drive the people out. It happened in 1863, when the U.S. government ordered the Navajo, also known as the Diné, to leave their land, to move to an internment camp called Bosque Redondo. And Colonel Christopher Kit Carson led his cavalry regiment to cut down over 4,000 peach trees.

The peaches were so important that they became part of a scorched earth policy to drive the people out. It happened in 1863, when the U.S. government ordered the Navajo, also known as the Diné, to leave their land, to move to an internment camp called Bosque Redondo. And Colonel Christopher Kit Carson led his cavalry regiment to cut down over 4,000 peach trees.

Wow. So you kind of had to unlearn some of the things you were learning in

Wow. So you kind of had to unlearn some of the things you were learning in

Wow. So you kind of had to unlearn some of the things you were learning in

Practices based often in observation, in changes that people have witnessed with their own eyes, and practices that have been passed down through speech.

Practices based often in observation, in changes that people have witnessed with their own eyes, and practices that have been passed down through speech.

Practices based often in observation, in changes that people have witnessed with their own eyes, and practices that have been passed down through speech.

For instance, the elder she spoke to said the traditional peach trees, once they matured, actually didn't need a ton of water.

For instance, the elder she spoke to said the traditional peach trees, once they matured, actually didn't need a ton of water.

For instance, the elder she spoke to said the traditional peach trees, once they matured, actually didn't need a ton of water.

And that's just one example of how gathering both the traditional knowledge and these heirloom seeds has helped Reagan put the puzzle back together. She dreams of one day establishing what she calls genetically pure orchards in rural areas.

And that's just one example of how gathering both the traditional knowledge and these heirloom seeds has helped Reagan put the puzzle back together. She dreams of one day establishing what she calls genetically pure orchards in rural areas.

And that's just one example of how gathering both the traditional knowledge and these heirloom seeds has helped Reagan put the puzzle back together. She dreams of one day establishing what she calls genetically pure orchards in rural areas.

Those would be really different from commercial breeding programs, where peaches are selected to enhance the size of the fruit and the sugar content, and all the trees are genetically identical.

Those would be really different from commercial breeding programs, where peaches are selected to enhance the size of the fruit and the sugar content, and all the trees are genetically identical.

Those would be really different from commercial breeding programs, where peaches are selected to enhance the size of the fruit and the sugar content, and all the trees are genetically identical.

By comparison, her orchards are propagated purely from the seeds. So each tree comes from a seed in the ground.

By comparison, her orchards are propagated purely from the seeds. So each tree comes from a seed in the ground.

By comparison, her orchards are propagated purely from the seeds. So each tree comes from a seed in the ground.

characteristics from seeds that are uniquely adapted to the local climate. Preliminary studies have even shown that southwest peaches are more drought resistant and have a higher pest tolerance, and that could be critical to peach production in the future. But for now, Reagan is focused on gathering genetic information about the peaches of the Four Corners region.

characteristics from seeds that are uniquely adapted to the local climate. Preliminary studies have even shown that southwest peaches are more drought resistant and have a higher pest tolerance, and that could be critical to peach production in the future. But for now, Reagan is focused on gathering genetic information about the peaches of the Four Corners region.

characteristics from seeds that are uniquely adapted to the local climate. Preliminary studies have even shown that southwest peaches are more drought resistant and have a higher pest tolerance, and that could be critical to peach production in the future. But for now, Reagan is focused on gathering genetic information about the peaches of the Four Corners region.

And word about her project is traveling among southwest tribal nations.

And word about her project is traveling among southwest tribal nations.

And word about her project is traveling among southwest tribal nations.

I mean, how do you feel about the fact that this was a community effort in the sense that you would not have these trees if the Southwest communities hadn't held on to these seeds at all?

I mean, how do you feel about the fact that this was a community effort in the sense that you would not have these trees if the Southwest communities hadn't held on to these seeds at all?

I mean, how do you feel about the fact that this was a community effort in the sense that you would not have these trees if the Southwest communities hadn't held on to these seeds at all?

if you have a story about plants and indigenous science you'd like us to look into send us an email at shortwave at npr.org and follow our show on apple and spotify it makes a huge difference This episode was produced by Jessica Young. It was edited by our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Gilly Moon was the audio engineer.

if you have a story about plants and indigenous science you'd like us to look into send us an email at shortwave at npr.org and follow our show on apple and spotify it makes a huge difference This episode was produced by Jessica Young. It was edited by our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Gilly Moon was the audio engineer.

if you have a story about plants and indigenous science you'd like us to look into send us an email at shortwave at npr.org and follow our show on apple and spotify it makes a huge difference This episode was produced by Jessica Young. It was edited by our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Gilly Moon was the audio engineer.

Beth Donovan is our senior director, and Colin Campbell is our senior vice president of podcasting strategy. I'm Emily Kwong. Thank you, as always, for listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

Beth Donovan is our senior director, and Colin Campbell is our senior vice president of podcasting strategy. I'm Emily Kwong. Thank you, as always, for listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

Beth Donovan is our senior director, and Colin Campbell is our senior vice president of podcasting strategy. I'm Emily Kwong. Thank you, as always, for listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.