Empo Hunumu’u. Chiokoe Uttesiavu.
You are Here. Thank You.
Inepo Heather Bernikoff teak. Ne Yoeme (Yaqui) into Hornitospo hoak. Hume bwia, ba’am into teeka in weweriam. Inepo Huya Ania waata.
My name is Heather Bernikoff. I am Yoeme and live in Hornitos. The land, water and sky are my relatives. I love the natural world.
Ever since I was a child, I have been caring for and respecting the natural world. The PolliNative Project began in 2019 when I decided to scale larger monarch butterfly habitat restoration work on my ranch, Taawimtapo (Place/Homeland of the Hawks). Monarch numbers had declined to extinction levels, and I wanted to do my part to help them survive. Now, the project has morphed into more broad-scale education on general habitat restoration, with the centerpiece being my multi-year blog documenting this work and my very imperfect personal journey.
As an Indigenous land steward, my connection to agriculture and conservation looks a little different than that of the dominant culture. It is this perspective I hope to share in the spirit of education and promoting greater connection and respect for the Huya Ania (natural world). As living things, we face tremendous challenges due to human greed and a disconnection with the elements we need for health and life (clean air, water and soil). In sharing my perspective and story of what one person can do, the unvarnished, unstaged successes and failures, I hope to tap into the love and compassion we all have and see if you will join me (or continue with me on your journey) in making this place healthier for all. If nothing else, I hope you will enjoy these stories and the photos of this beautiful place.
Ito te vitniavu ew’e. Best wishes to all of us.
PolliNative 