After several days on the road in rural Acadia, entering East Acadia in the Heartland region of mountains and steep cliffs, I began to follow the Hagurah-Ka River, before stopping at my first destination at the home of Issac Kalimang. Issac is a local yam farmer turned environmental activist and has spent the last few years advocating more environmental protection along the river. After a quick greeting, Issac walks me down the sloped terraces of his yam farm to the banks of the Hagurah-Ka. Although the river was cold with the edges remaining frozen, it was clean. Issac pulls out a photo
“This was a 15 years ago” he says
In the photo of the same spot, I can see a brown film floating over the river, a tire floats by. Issac says that years of unregulated dumping by a tire factory upriver had polluted the river, additionally a lack of proper waste management was leading to waste piling up at a site downstream. This isn’t unique to the Hagurah-Ka, across Slokais in industrial areas or areas of high density trash ends up in small tributaries which feed larger river networks.
“Not only was this river a poor sight to see, it wasn’t safe to live near or grow crops near,” Issac explains as we walk along the river.
The Haugurah-Ka is unique however, to the indigenous people who gave the river its name “great spirit of life”. Starting in the 1990s, leaders within the Liante’an ethnic group began to demand action from the provincial government, who claimed there was little they could do as environmental regulations were not standard nationwide and companies had rights to dispose of waste on their own property. In 2002, the Clean Water Act led to the creation of the Department of Environmental Compliance (DEC), a key project of President Sean Khan who personally visited the Haugurah-Ka in 2005. Issac shows me a photo of himself, Sean Khan and Dia Jah-Nieja, the elected head of the Liante’an Tribe, which was recognized federally in 1999. Dia Jah is wearing a traditional costume of beads and feathers. We are now in a large shed, which holds a large map of East Acadia
“Although, we have claimed victory here. There are many streams and tributaries” Issac says, pointing to a shaded red section near the southern border with Pindai.
“That’s Jiang Ja River starts in Pindai but flows through much of the southern edge of this province”
“Why do you think this river is clean and Jiang Ja isn’t?”
“The Pindai City government is corrupt, especially its regulation of heavy industry” Issac says
I then ask Issac for who he is supporting in this year’s election.
“I’ve been a Green Party supporter since 2000, Joshua Lesmondo is an interesting choice” Issac says referring to candidate leading party primary polling.
“What about, Isla Mangang-Yan?” I ask, referring to the popular author and MSL from Valleres Province.
“She’s a corporate slug, from what I’ve heard. Social policy and other things are in the right place but she’s taken money from the Sun Corporation? I don’t remember the last time they were interested in Green Party politics?” Issac says as closes the door to the shed.
The Haugurah-Ka reaches the ocean in the provincial capital of San Luis. Since 2010, the once neglected riverfront has become a large park and eventspace. Redevelopment along the river has led to new companies looking towards the river instead of away. Although still not clean enough to swim this far downstream, and too cold this time of year, there are plenty of people to be seen. Run-club’s meeting up, corporate office workers at the nearby HMR fashion, dressed to the tee taking aesthetic photos of themselves with coffee. The redevelopment has only complemented the city’s development as rural areas of the province lose population. Additionally, the opening of the Heart of Acadia high-speed rail line between San Luis and Pindai in 2015 has only led to further growth as some Pindai residents are relocating to San Luis and commuting daily to their jobs in Pindai. Yet a quick walk over the John Ramos Bridge into old-town San Luis the dynamics shift, in 2022 these wards went for Brooke Weasley by 20% margins on average compared to 25% margins for Joseph Chavez in wards and neighborhoods south of the river. This is due to demographics and history, the Old City is primarily made up of wealthy Costeno families with roots dating back to the 1600s. Single-family homes with ornate gardens and colonial architecture dominate the landscape.
At the center of the Old City is the Our Lady of Encanta Church. In the churchyard, I have a conversation with Derek, a middle-aged man on a mid-afternoon walk.
“These young people don’t understand. It takes strength to lead this nation” he says in Spanish. I oblige and switch over to Spanish.
When I ask about his party of choice. He responds quickly.
“Conservative, I’m a man of faith. I really liked George Oliver a few years ago, he solved the Kaijan mess. It was just the scandal that got to him”
When I ask about Brooke Weasley, he just shakes his head.
“I will vote for him, if the party chooses. She’s ineffective at her job. I believe a President should get things done by any means” he says as he adjusts his Heart of Acadia FC hat.
“And, about the George Oliver situation, everybody’s corrupt Joseph Chavez, Sean Khan, Joseph Zhang all did the same thing in their term? Where was the public outcry and investigations then?”
Derek’s statement comes from a place of truth, every recent President has faced allegations of fraud and corruption. Sean Khan had the disability fraud scandal allegedly allowing dead family members to collect checks and allegedly vote for him in the 2004 Election. George Oliver was accused of sending government money to personal allies and feeding private intel information to investors to beat the market. Joseph Zhang was accused of mass appointing local judges and sheriffs from the Minjian faith, although this is largely based in anti-Minjian sentiments. Joseph Chavez faced attacks from within his own party, which was later revealed to be part of a master plan known as the Chavez Doctrine, an internal document leaked in 2017. And there is even further precedent with the politics of the 1920s and 30s being notorious for having open cooperation between criminal organizations and government officials. Regardless, as I take the National Rail to the San Luis Airport for my short-flight to Kirkwall, I can’t help but think of my time on Acadia Island. Often forgotten in national narratives, yet with diverse perspectives, beliefs and opinions. Despite the negative reception in South Acadia, the region’s description as the Heartland is a true statement, people are willing to stand up for what they believe, and put their heart on their sleeve. That itself is admirable in a culture of social media and inauthenticity.
