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.

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.

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.

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.