Unbroken: Indigenous Peoples Today

Nico, 17 Years Old, Urban Farmer at Three Sisters Gardens

Nico, a 17 year old man born and raised in Sacramento, California, holds a full basket of yellow squash after starting a 6am shift at Three Sisters Gardens.

When I asked him how he got started at the garden and how it makes him feel, he replied with a very thoughtful response.

"At first I was just volunteering and helping out but then it turned into something more. I mean, it sorta gave me a purpose, and I know that's a powerful thing to say, but I'm almost done with school and I don't really have anything after that besides just sitting around and playing games. Coming out here every day, for 4 or 5 hours a day, has changed my whole mindset on how everything is.

"We're learning how to work hard, help others, and really how to maintain a life source. It's not just about handling the plants. It's that we're making food. That we're giving back to the people. We're giving to the elders, women and children, and giving to low income families.

"That's the one thing that really messes with my head is the fact we're growing all this food off of so little. We're making something beautiful out of something so small. We're doing something good with the few pieces of land we have. It makes me feel happy giving back."

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