Raylen Bark

From late December of 2022 to early January of 2023, California received approximately a year’s worth of rainfall, or 32 trillion gallons - enough to cover the entire state in a foot of water. Given that the state has been in a drought for over 20 years, this amount of rainfall all at once might seem like a good thing to help snap California out of its dry conditions. However, the state’s predicament is unfortunately more complicated than that.

Humanity begins when we embrace the human craving for having meaningful connections with one another. In Chinese culture, we bond with our community at mealtimes. The warmth and comfort from the dishes goes to our hearts and touches our souls. Welcome to my food justice. This project was also made in an effort to combat sinophobia, or the fear or dislike of Chinese people, which has been escalating in the United States since the onset of COVID-19.

This photo essay explores traditional plant harvesting within Cherokee culture. This is a tradition that my family has passed on and continues to keep alive while retaining sustainable practices. Our practices are to ensure that the future generations have access to the same traditions and resources that their ancestors did. To view the photo essay, please click here.