Brooke Larsen
I inherited a legacy of disconnect, neglect, and disdain for Great Salt Lake. My ancestors colonized the Great Salt Lake Basin and started diverting water away from the lake. They believed any water that reached the lake was wasted. For those of us descended from settlers, I think the first step to stay with Great Salt Lake is to tell the truth about the violence our ancestors enacted on the land, the water, and the Goshute, Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute people. Until we face that, take reparative action, and follow the narratives and leadership of those Indigenous to this place, I don’t believe we’ll ever truly restore Great Salt Lake.
Brooke Larsen is a co-producer of the Stay Salty: Lakefacing Stories project. She is a queer storyteller, journalist, and writer based in Salt Lake City. She currently writes for High Country News, and she is the co-editor of the book New World Coming: Frontline Voices on Pandemics, Uprisings, and Climate Crisis.
En español
Heredé un legado de desconexión, negligencia y desprecio hacia el Gran Lago Salado. Mis ancestros colonizaron la Cuenca del Gran Lago Salado y comenzaron a desviar agua lejos del lago. Ellos creÃan que cualquier agua que llegara al lago era desperdiciada. Para aquellos de nosotros descendientes de colonos, creo que el primer paso para permanecer con el Gran Lago Salado es contar la verdad sobre la violencia que nuestros ancestros ejercieron sobre la tierra, el agua y los pueblos Goshute, Paiute, Shoshone y Ute. Hasta que enfrentemos eso, tomemos medidas reparatorias y sigamos las narrativas y el liderazgo de aquellos indÃgenas de este lugar, no creo que podamos realmente restaurar el Gran Lago Salado.
Brooke Larsen (ella) es una narradora, periodista y escritora LGBT que vive en Salt Lake City. Hoy en dia es escritora para High Country News y es coeditora del libro New World Coming: Frontline Voices on Pandemics, Uprisings, and Climate Crisis.
