#Nevada - ‘People’s garden’: New #SpringsPreserve venue connects #LasVegas to #Paiute roots
By Kalohe Danbara
Las Vegas Review-Journal
September 8, 2026
"A new interactive teaching garden at Springs Preserve aims to keep traditional ecological knowledge and the native Southern Paiute language alive in Las Vegas.
" #NuwuPahsats, a Southern Paiute or Nuwuvi term that translates to 'people’s garden,' is tucked inside Springs Preserve behind a gate decorated with metallic Joshua trees, desert tortoises and blue streams of water.
" 'It’s sort of a microcosm of Southern Nevada. We have different areas that represent different geographical locations here in the valley,' said the preserve’s archaeologist Nathan Harper. 'Each of these beds here are planted with specific #plants that have specific functions.'
"The circular shaped garden guides visitors with informational panels about various #NativePlants, animals and philosophies."
[...]
"Springs Preserve first began building Nuwu Pahsats after funding for the project was passed during the 81st Nevada State Legislative Session in 2021. Five years later, on March 28, Nuwu Pahsats hosted the opening ceremony.
"The garden is now open to the public. However, Springs Preserve has agreed that the Southern Paiute people will be able to access Nuwu Pahsats privately for special community events when needed.
"As temperatures begin to cool in the fall and winter, Harper anticipates the garden will come alive with greenery, flowers and wildlife. He hopes that when visitors walk through Nuwu Pahsats they will leave with a respect for native ecological knowledge.
" 'For what some people looks like a wasteland of a desert is a grocery store. It’s your convenience store. It’s your hardware store,' Harper said. 'Like the panel says, the land provides for us all. Everything we need, the land gives to us. So we need to make sure that we’re giving back to the land and reciprocating that care.' "
Read more:
https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/peoples-garden-new-springs-preserve-venue-connects-lv-to-paiute-roots-3883423/
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/ynRt0
#SolarPunkSunday #CulturalPreservation #LanguagePreservation #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #TEK #EcologicalKnowledge #NativePlants #Biodiversity #DesertLife #NativeAmericanMonth