Latino Outdoors mourns the passing of Representative Raúl Grijalva, a tireless champion for environmental justice, public lands, and communities. His leadership and commitment to equity, justice, cultura, and protection in the outdoors have left an enduring legacy.

Congressman Grijalva’s roots run deep in the land. In an article for the Sierra Club, he said, “When I was a young boy in southern Arizona, the sky islands of the Santa Rita Mountains were my front yard, and the cactus-strewn plains of the Sonoran Desert my backyard. My father was a vaquero, a cowboy, on the historic Canoa Ranch on the outskirts of Tucson. I spent a lot of time with him as he worked the land. While we roamed the 4,800-acre property, my father shared his thoughts about the landscape and his reverence for the natural world. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, those weekends in the desert sparked my own respect for big, open spaces and, eventually, an appreciation for public lands.”

Throughout his career, Grijalva’s leadership was pivotal in defending America’s national parks and the communities that benefit from their protection. One of the first times Latino Outdoors connected with Congressman Grijalva was when LO Founder José González presented him with a piece of his artwork at a reception. The gathering, which included groups like Green Latinos, Hispanic Access Foundation, HECHO, and the Hispanic Federation, focused on the idea of the Latino Conservation Alliance.

Congressman Grijalva’s dedication to public lands, parks, and community access was clear. He consistently advocated for these causes, and his support for Latino Outdoors’ mission was evident when he participated in our film, “Estamos Aqui.” In that, it was obvious how personal conservation was to him and how deeply it resonated with our communities. He saw himself in them, and they saw themselves in him.

As the days go by, many will share all the different ways they knew him and worked with him. That speaks to his impact. For us, it was knowing he was a constant advocate for the work Latino Outdoors does. Even though he might not have been everyone’s “official” representative, he was certainly a representative for all of us—much like the tio or abuelo with the wisdom and experience to guide us. In many ways, he was a future ancestor. As such, he’ll continue to guide us with the legacy he leaves.

Rest in Power, Congressman.