Home2Headwaters: Where Does Your Water Come From?

In July 2022, Nina Gordon-Kirsch walked more than 240 miles, tracing the Mokelumne River - the river that provides tap water to the East Bay.

She left her home on Lisjan Ohlone land (so called Oakland) and 33 days later she arrived on Washoe land, at the headwaters of the Mokelumne River in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

On her journey, Nina interviewed farmers, river conservationists, hydropower employees, and regular citizens, collecting stories about how we all relate to water. She walked on the Bay Trail, through the Delta Islands (swam a few river crossings), kayaked upstream for 2 days, and backpacked off-trail in a remote river canyon. After one month of walking, Nina made it to her destination and now has an important story to tell.

Both Nina and a film crew documented her journey and are raising money to make an educational curriculum to bring into Bay Area schools about where their drinking water comes from. Help support the making of the film by donating here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/home2headwaters

Nina is grateful to the Sogorea Te Land Trust and Darrell Cruz for granting her permission to walk on Chochenyo-Ohlone land and Washoe land, respectively.