Where We Belong: Chemehuevi and Caxcan Preservation of Sacred Mountains. By Daisy Ocampo.

The article focuses on the efforts of the Chemehuevi people of Mamapukaib in the Mojave Desert and the Caxcan people of Tlachialoyantepec in Zacatecas, Mexico, to preserve their sacred mountains through cultural practices such as song and dance. Historian Daisy Ocampo, who is Caxcan and has worked with the Chemehuevi, highlights how these traditions serve as forms of historic preservation and affirm the peoples' connections to their land. The article critiques government preservation agencies for perpetuating colonialism and argues that true protection of Indigenous sacred sites requires Indigenous land ownership and leadership. Ocampo expresses cautious optimism about future stewardship initiatives, such as the Native American Land Conservancy, while questioning the ability of settler institutions to decolonize their practices. [Extracted from the article]