See below for more information and a further breakdown of the various elements in the mural.

Cross-Border Connections:

Arizona is an epicenter of culture and living traditions. These cross-border connections are illustrated through the two young girls. “Las Primas” is named for the two cousins depicted, one taking on a darker complexion that mirrors Mexican ties versus her fairer-skinned cousin on the opposite side of the border. This speaks to not only the familial ties that reach across the border but also the many connections and traditions that are shared despite the separation from the border. The two girls are modeled after the artist’s daughter and niece.

Jaguar:

Many people do not know that jaguars are native to the Arizona and New Mexico borderlands. Jaguars in the United States have been listed as endangered species since 1997. After people gathered enough information to determine that the borderlands were the natural habitat of the jaguar, the jaguar are currently protected under state law in both Arizona and New Mexico. You can find out more about the jaguar and the conservation efforts to protect them at Arizona Game and Fish.

Sonora Tiger Salamander:

This salamander is unique and only found in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Listed as an endangered species in 1997, it can live on both land and water, like most amphibians. Local community involvement to save the salamanders affects their survival. You can find out more about the Sonora tiger salamander at Arizona Game and Fish.  

Gila Pupfish:

The Gila Pupfish, or desert pupfish, is one of two remaining pupfishes in Arizona. Historically there were three species of pupfish found in Arizona. Both the Quitoboquito pupfish and desert pupfish are listed as endangered species. The focus of intensive conservation efforts, including ponds, was captive. Breeding fish serve as gene pools for reintroduction into historic habitats. The pupfish is truly one of the most beautiful animals in the desert. You can learn more about the Gila pupfish at the Arizona Game & Fish website.

Mexican Spotted Owl:

These owls are known as one of the largest owls in North America. Not only do they stand out for their size, but also for their uncommonly large dark eyes. Of their species, they have the most widespread geographical range, from the southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the Colorado Plateau in southern Utah, southward through Arizona and New Mexico, and into Mexico. You can learn more about the Mexican spotted owl on the National Parks Service’s website. 

The Three Sisters:

Beans, squash, and corn are known as the three sisters and have been a large part of indigenous agriculture for centuries. The Santa Cruz Valley is one of the oldest cultivated regions in North America, and there are still traditional farms that grow the three sisters. You can learn more about the three sisters and how to grow them in this Native Seeds article. 

Pit Houses:

Indigenous communities have lived in the Santa Cruz Valley for a very long time. Archeological findings can date back to 5,500 BCE. Their dwellings changed over time. Pit houses were the earliest types of dwelling, consisting of large oval pits dug several feet into the ground. In the valley today, the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui are the two federally recognized tribes that still reside in the area. You can learn more about the early ways of life for indigenous peoples of the region at the National Parks Service’s website.

Streams in the Desert (Ribbon of Life):

Unlike many perceptions of the desert, the Ribbon of Life fuels the streams and rivers that flow through the desert. The Santa Cruz River is nationally unique in that it originates in the U.S., crosses into Mexico, and returns to the U.S. Rising in the San Rafael Valley of southern Arizona, it crosses south into Sonora, Mexico, then turns north to reenter the U.S. east of Nogales. In the Santa Cruz River watershed, there are 90 miles of streams and rivers that flow year-round, supporting riparian habitats—on the banks of streams and rivers—that are both beautiful and integral to life in the desert. You can learn more about the streams of the desert through the Sonoran Institute website. 

Sonoran Desert:

The Sonoran Desert covers approximately 100,000 square miles. It includes most of the southern half of Arizona, southeastern California, most of the Baja California peninsula, the islands of the Gulf of California, and much of the state of Sonora, Mexico. Unlike stereotypical images of deserts that people think of, the Sonoran Desert is lush with diverse life, plants, and animals alike. You can learn more about the Sonoran Desert at the Desert Museum’s website. 

Tumacácori:

The arrival of colonizers, settlers, and missionaries played a large part in the Santa Cruz Valley. Spanish missionaries built the Mission San José de Tumacácori in the 1750s to replace the first mission in southern Arizona. Father Kino and his party established the original mission in 1691. They arrived from the south through New Spain’s West Coast corridor and established multiple missions. They came into contact with the indigenous peoples of the area and had a “turbulent” relationship with them for hundreds of years. As a result, remnants of their presence within the indigenous communities still exist today. You can learn more about the mission and their relationship with the Indigenous people through the National Parks Service’s website. 

Sky Islands:

The sky islands are isolated mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico. Some of these mountains rise more than 6,000 feet above the desert floor. This difference in elevation makes the natural environment in the lowlands and high peaks drastically different. Plants and animals living in the mountains could never survive in the surrounding deserts. From the sky islands to the deserts below, sky islands are some of the most diverse environments in the world. You can learn more about the sky islands through the US Forest Service Website.