Rooted, Restorative, Resilient: A Q&A with Sanchez

Q: How do you usually introduce yourself?

My name is Sanchez I carry the identity of a Two-Spirit Karankawa person and come from Lipan Apache and Mexica lineage. When I introduce myself, I try to honor where I come from and the responsibilities that come with it. I show up as someone who is here to learn, to give back, and to walk in a good way—grounded, open, and connected to community and land.

Q: What is your relationship to the land and to the buffalo?

A: My relationship to the land is ancestral and spiritual. As Karankawa, Lipan Apache, and Mexica descendant, the land is more than a resource—it is kin, memory, and guidance. The buffalo hold a powerful spiritual presence for me. They carry teachings of endurance, purpose, and balance. Being near them feels like standing in the presence of my ancestors. They remind me of who I am, the people I come from, and the responsibilities I hold to walk gently, truthfully, and with strength.

Q: What first drew you to the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, and what keeps you coming back?

A: I was first drawn in through relationship—especially through Lucille, who welcomed me and my children with open arms and deep intention. But spiritually, I felt called here. The buffalo, the land, and the stories shared here awakened something ancestral in me. What keeps me coming back is the healing. This work reconnects me to teachings I carry in my bloodline, and it strengthens my identity as a Two-Spirit person walking between worlds. Every visit feels like returning home in a way that is both familiar and new.

Q: What teachings or lessons have you learned through this work that you carry into your daily life?

A: This work has taught me to slow down and listen—not just with my ears, but with my spirit. The land and the buffalo remind me to be intentional, patient, and respectful of cycles. I’ve learned the strength in quiet leadership, the power of showing up consistently, and the importance of protecting and nurturing the things that sustain us. These teachings show up in how I parent, how I move in the world, and how I honor my responsibilities as a Two-Spirit person.

Q: Who are the people, mentors, or stories that help guide your path?

A: My greatest guides are my children. They move through the world with a wisdom that feels ancient—reminding me of innocence, honesty, and the future that my ancestors prayed for. Their presence teaches me patience, compassion, and how to walk in a good way even when life feels heavy. They are my daily reminder of why this work matters and what continuation truly looks like.

I am also guided by spirit and by the quiet ways my ancestors show up in my life. As a Two-Spirit Karankawa person and a descendant of Lipan Apache and Mexica bloodlines, I feel their strength in the moments when I need direction, and I feel their protection when I step into spaces meant for me. Their resilience and teachings shape how I move, how I give back, and how I carry myself on the land.

And I honor how I was guided to Lucille. That connection wasn’t accidental—it felt spiritual, intentional, like something placed in my path for a reason. Her leadership, heart, and wisdom continue to guide me. She has opened doors not just with her words, but with her example, showing me what it means to live grounded in truth, responsibility, and care for community.

These guides—my children, my ancestors, and Lucille—walk with me, remind me who I am, and help me stay aligned with the path I’m meant to be on.

Q: If you could describe the spirit of this community in three words, what would they be?

A: Rooted. Restorative. Resilient.

Q: How do you refill your own cup after giving your time and energy here?

A: I refill my cup by returning to spirit and to the quiet places where my ancestors can reach me. Sometimes it’s as simple as stepping outside, letting the wind move across my skin, and remembering that I come from people who listened to the land long before I was here.

I find grounding in prayer, in breath, and in moments of stillness where I can feel my Two-Spirit identity settle back into balance. My children also refill my spirit—their laughter, their presence, and their innocence remind me why I walk this path and who I’m walking it for.

The land itself restores me. Whether it’s the sound of the earth under my feet, the sky opening above me, or the way nature holds silence, these moments help me return to myself. They remind me that I am connected, protected, and supported by something much larger than me.

It’s in these ancestral and spiritual spaces that my energy finds its way back home.

Q: Anything else, final reflections, something you’d like to share with the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project family?

A: Thank you. Thank you to the people who have walked this path with me and continue to work in harmony with themselves and with the world around them. If anyone is struggling to understand their calling, I want them to remember this: Spirit will always call you back to the land. Spirit will always call you back to the water.

It is important to protect these living beings, to care for our Mother Earth humanely and with intention. We are caretakers of this land, of our Mother, and the way we walk here carries spiritual weight and purpose.