Sofia Aldinio

Visual Journalist & Multimedia Storyteller

Hastaquenoshayamosido

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Location: South Portland

Nationality: Argentine

Biography: Sofia Aldinio is an Argentine documentary photographer and multimedia storyteller. She is currently based in Portland, Maine. Her work uses collaborative practices to tell stories about home, immigration, climate change, and preserving natural and... MORE

An aerial view of San Jose de G... off the canyon as one used to.

1 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

An aerial view of San Jose de Gracia - a community nestled in the middle of the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico, July, 2021. The community claims that it was founded 200 years ago, but today there are only 21 members living there full time. As with many other small communities, water is the reason why they are able to settle and live in their surroundings. However the rainy season has shifted, leaving their community without a waterfall flowing off the canyon as one used to.

Emilda and her family get toget... sustainable anymore, she said.

2 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Emilda and her family get together on a Saturday afternoon before heading to the beach to receive the fish in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January 2021. Emilda lives with her daughters and grandchildren. She comes from a long lineage of fisherman, but she hopes for something different for the future of her grandchildren. Living off what the land provides us is not sustainable anymore, she said.

Joli stands next to her daughte...ving by making soap and sewing.

3 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Joli stands next to her daughter, Dalma, at their ranch in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2022. Joli splits her days as a mom and working at the ranch. Because of the current drought, and the lack of water she hasn't been able to produce cheese because the goats are not producing milk. Instead she has found other ways of making a living by making soap and sewing.

A portrait of Miguel Murillo, i...nity by attracting more people.

4 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

A portrait of Miguel Murillo, in the land where he was born and still lives, San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. From 2006 to today, the community has lost approximately 60 members and has a population of 21 today. Miguel is leading the harvest of the mango crop, weaving old techniques in with his hope that mango production will revive the community by attracting more people.

Without the rain, there is almo...is finger becoming whole again.

5 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Without the rain, there is almost no wild food left for the ranch animals, San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January 2022. The cows forage anything including cardons, the tallest cactus in the world. Today the cactus is protected and is prohibited to harvest. The cactus is still used for medicinal properties, for example, a part of the cactus was applied to Joli's husband's finger after being chopped by a sharp tool, resulting in his finger becoming whole again.

Alejo Romero stands next to a w...er, the water will all be gone.

6 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Alejo Romero stands next to a water hole close to his ranch, San Cosme, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. At the age of eight Alejo used to ride a horse by himself to collect water from this water hole in buckets for his family. The water used to flow through the stone wall. Today the water comes and goes with the rain. He says if they don't get any rain before the summer, the water will all be gone.

Chuy Rojas holds a piece of gua...he does, and his answer was no.

7 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Chuy Rojas holds a piece of guaco in Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December, 2020. The native plant grows in the hills of the desert. They have been relying on this herb during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of the drought, a lot of the herbs have been drying out, resulting in immense pressure for the ranchers that rely on these native plants to feed their animals, or to use as medicine and food. I asked Chuy if he thinks his kids and grandchildren will hold the same knowledge as he does, and his answer was no.

Dalma claims that she has no me...the arroyo was seven years ago.

8 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Dalma claims that she has no memory of seeing the water run through the arroyo seco ever before, San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January 2022. Joli, Dalma's mom shared that the last time water ran through the arroyo was seven years ago.

Rumaldo harvested a pumpkin in ...s own ranch in the near future.

9 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Rumaldo harvested a pumpkin in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, January 2022. He is the only one left in the community that dedicates most of his time to cultivate and harvest foods like they used to do in the past. He was born and raised in the community, but he is hoping to move to his own ranch in the near future.

A reflection of Enrique&#39...e medicinal plants in the area.

10 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

A reflection of Enrique's hand, San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. Enrique, 38, moved to the community two years ago with the hope to start a small clinic. His dad was born and raised in the community and is now teaching him about all the medicinal plants in the area.

Dalma and Gerardo lay over the ...e town until a new well is dug.

11 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Dalma and Gerardo lay over the water tank, San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. The water is used to feed the plants and the animals. The ranch has a well of 60 meters that feeds the closest town approximately eight kilometers away. Because of the lack of water, all new water contracts are on pause in the town until a new well is dug.

Felipe and Olga, have been expe...ge in parts of Central America.

12 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Felipe and Olga, have been experiencing a big change in their life in their home of San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January 2021. What once was a quiet life full of rich fish is now a struggle to make a living. “There are no more fish,” Felipe says. Migration has already impacted many people in Central America. Because Baja California is a borderland, it is expected that increased border stress between Mexico and the United States will be felt due to the severe effects of climate change in parts of Central America.

Crecencia was born, raised and ...tion to pass the land along to.

13 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Crecencia was born, raised and had her own children in the community that once was her home, San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021. She moved away from the community to raise her own children, but in the Covid-19 pandemic she recently moved back to the community. Her knowledge for the area, especially the herbs and plants is irreplaceable. She wonders what will happen to the place once she dies and there is no younger generation to pass the land along to.

Crecencia draws herself next to...community when she passes away.

14 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Crecencia draws herself next to a stream that used to flow next to her house where she used to play for endless hours San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. Crecencia's biggest fear is what will happen to the community when she passes away.

An abandoned house in San Jose ...deteriorate into the landscape.

15 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

An abandoned house in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021. The population of San Jose de Gracia has been decreasing since the last decades. A recent census shows how in the past 15 years it has lost 51 members of the community resulting in no younger generation to carry forward the traditions. Many houses have been abandoned, left to deteriorate into the landscape.

Alejo Romero, rides his horse i...vest for conservation purposes.

16 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Alejo Romero, rides his horse in the landscape where he was born and raised, San Cosme, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. Alejo was born in a ranch on the other side of the mountain where most of the food and water was gathered from the area. Today the water is trucked from the closest city, about 100 kilometers away, and a lot of the vegetation is prohibited to harvest for conservation purposes.

All the young families migrated...ries, finding new ways of life.

17 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

All the young families migrated away from the community leaving empty classrooms and abandoned houses, San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021. The future of the younger generation is uncertain, pushing them to migrate to other cities, and even countries, finding new ways of life.

An archival photo from the old ...racia, Baja California, Mexico.

18 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

An archival photo from the old school that is no longer active in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico.

Gerardo, Dalma and Joli having ...s don’t produce milk.

19 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Gerardo, Dalma and Joli having a laugh at the ranch in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. Joli grew up on a ranch a few kilometers away, and she still loves the quiet and the lifestyle of a rancher. Her duties have been adjusted by the lack of rain and the inability to produce cheese, one of her main sources of income. With no water, the goats don’t produce milk.

Juana cooking octopus, San Jose...he community members pass away.

20 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Juana cooking octopus, San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. At 73 years old she claims the community it’s her favorite place to be. Her biggest worry is what will happen with the place when all the community members pass away.

Morning light over an abandoned...ifornia, Mexico, February 2022.

21 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Morning light over an abandoned house in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022.

The kids cemetery in San Jose d...nge in Baja California, Mexico.

22 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

The kids cemetery in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. The small community has at least four different cemeteries generationally identified. For vulnerable communities like this one, the risk to their members is the decreasing ability to sustain a living off the land as climate change continues to impress what seems like irreversible change in Baja California, Mexico.

An empty net lays on the beach,...ifornia, Mexico, February 2022.

23 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

An empty net lays on the beach, San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022.

Juana keeps warm in her house i...emperatures that they have had.

24 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Juana keeps warm in her house in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, January 2022. “It was never this cold in the winter,” she said. The community have all been claiming the unusual temperatures that they have had.

Joli walks in her ranch in San ...the ranch with her grandmother.

25 of 25 © 2024 Sofia Aldinio

Joli walks in her ranch in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, February 2022. Joli has learned most of her knowledge from living in the ranch with her grandmother.

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Thumbnail of An aerial view of San Jose de Gr_g off the canyon as one used to.

Thumbnail of Emilda and her family get togeth_t sustainable anymore, she said.

Thumbnail of Joli stands next to her daughter_iving by making soap and sewing.

Thumbnail of A portrait of Miguel Murillo, in_unity by attracting more people.

Thumbnail of Without the rain, there is almos_his finger becoming whole again.

Thumbnail of Alejo Romero stands next to a wa_mer, the water will all be gone.

Thumbnail of Chuy Rojas holds a piece of guac_ he does, and his answer was no.

Thumbnail of Dalma claims that she has no mem_ the arroyo was seven years ago.

Thumbnail of Rumaldo harvested a pumpkin in S_is own ranch in the near future.

Thumbnail of A reflection of Enrique'_he medicinal plants in the area.

Thumbnail of Dalma and Gerardo lay over the w_he town until a new well is dug.

Thumbnail of Felipe and Olga, have been exper_nge in parts of Central America.

Thumbnail of Crecencia was born, raised and h_ation to pass the land along to.

Thumbnail of Crecencia draws herself next to _ community when she passes away.

Thumbnail of An abandoned house in San Jose d_ deteriorate into the landscape.

Thumbnail of Alejo Romero, rides his horse in_rvest for conservation purposes.

Thumbnail of All the young families migrated _tries, finding new ways of life.

Thumbnail of An archival photo from the old s_Gracia, Baja California, Mexico.

Thumbnail of Gerardo, Dalma and Joli having a_ts don’t produce milk.

Thumbnail of Juana cooking octopus, San Jose _the community members pass away.

Thumbnail of Morning light over an abandoned _lifornia, Mexico, February 2022.

Thumbnail of The kids cemetery in San Jose de_ange in Baja California, Mexico.

Thumbnail of An empty net lays on the beach, _lifornia, Mexico, February 2022.

Thumbnail of Juana keeps warm in her house in_temperatures that they have had.

Thumbnail of Joli walks in her ranch in San J_ the ranch with her grandmother.

Private Story

Hastaquenoshayamosido

Copyright Sofia Aldinio 2024

Updated Feb 2023

Across the Northern Baja Sur Region of Mexico, extreme drought has caused the depletion of water, essential vegetation, medicinal herbs, and wildlife, collectively pushing traditional subsistence communities and their heritage of living off the land to the brink of survival. The starkest example of this is in San Jose de Gracia, a 200 year old, once thriving canyon community of multi-generational families, where now only 21 people remain. This project highlights the uncertainty these communities face as possibly the last keepers of their cultural heritage as climate change upends their way of life and pushes the younger generations out in search of sustainable livelihoods.

Prevailing climate change conversations focus on extreme weather disasters, economics, and the politics of migration. What is missing from that dialogue is the steady erosion of cultures that were shaped by living off of the grid and directly off of the land for hundreds of years. This project will present new research on the impacts of climate change on three communities struggling to survive, and how the changes have presented in their lifetimes. Until We Are Gone will probe the haunting question of what happens to future generations when collective cultural memory is erased, and asks what critical lessons we can learn about perseverance, sustainability and adaptation from these communities as mankind braces itself for more extreme conditions across our planet.

Work in Progress.

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Lewiston Mass Shooting

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