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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.


Andrea Murillo, Irma Murillo and Norma Murillo (from left to right) share a kitchen to prepare a meal in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021. The three of them were born and raised in the community, but only Norma still lives there. Norma's daughter migrated for better income opportunities to the closest active community almost two hours away from San Jose de Gracia. While we sit and share a meal, they recount stories of how they used to make dresses, dance and always have big shared meals with the community. 
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Andrea Murillo, Irma Murillo and Norma Murillo (from left to right) share a kitchen to prepare a meal in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021. The three of them were born and raised in the community, but only Norma still lives there. Norma's daughter migrated for better income opportunities to the closest active community almost two hours away from San Jose de Gracia. While we sit and share a meal, they recount stories of how they used to make dresses, dance and always have big shared meals with the community. 

Chuy Rojas holds a piece of guaco in Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December, 2021. 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.
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Chuy Rojas holds a piece of guaco in Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December, 2021. 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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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 describes.
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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 describes.
Erick Rojas fights with a cow, for morning milking in Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. Erick just returned to his father's land with his wife and two children. He spent a year working for a mine, but the pay was awful making it impossible to survive. Erick’s father, Chuy, is the keeper of the land’s knowledge, and if lost within the family, it will likely be forever.
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Erick Rojas fights with a cow, for morning milking in Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. Erick just returned to his father's land with his wife and two children. He spent a year working for a mine, but the pay was awful making it impossible to survive. Erick’s father, Chuy, is the keeper of the land’s knowledge, and if lost within the family, it will likely be forever.

Ornaments are placed in a rock crack in the mountain next to the canyon in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021.
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Ornaments are placed in a rock crack in the mountain next to the canyon in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, July 2021.

On New Year’s Eve, Ramon Alvarez sits with his one year old daughter at his father in law’s ranch, Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December 2020. He also lives in a ranch, at his father’s place where he sells and buys animals for a living.
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On New Year’s Eve, Ramon Alvarez sits with his one year old daughter at his father in law’s ranch, Rancho El Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December 2020. He also lives in a ranch, at his father’s place where he sells and buys animals for a living.
Pig ears hang on a line at Chuy Rojas house in Rancho el Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December 2020.
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Pig ears hang on a line at Chuy Rojas house in Rancho el Paraje, Baja California, Mexico, December 2020.
An empty fish net lays on the beach in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. With the weather patterns shifting the small fishing villages have been affected, leaving fishermen with empty nets. Fishing seasons are not reliable anymore, words shared repeatedly throughout various fishing villages in Baja California, Mexico.
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An empty fish net lays on the beach in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. With the weather patterns shifting the small fishing villages have been affected, leaving fishermen with empty nets. Fishing seasons are not reliable anymore, words shared repeatedly throughout various fishing villages in Baja California, Mexico.

Emilda and her family clean the fish prior to transport to La Paz, Baja California, Mexico, January 2021. Emilda comes from a long fishing line, but she hopes differently for her kids. “It’s not like it used to be, there are no more fish.” She said.
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Emilda and her family clean the fish prior to transport to La Paz, Baja California, Mexico, January 2021. Emilda comes from a long fishing line, but she hopes differently for her kids. “It’s not like it used to be, there are no more fish.” She said.
Miguel Murillo cuts palms in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, to build houses outside of the community, July 2021. A handful of houses in the community are still built 100% of palms. Concrete has been used in newer construction to replace this natural element. There are only a couple of people left in the community still cutting palms.
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Miguel Murillo cuts palms in San Jose de Gracia, Baja California, Mexico, to build houses outside of the community, July 2021. A handful of houses in the community are still built 100% of palms. Concrete has been used in newer construction to replace this natural element. There are only a couple of people left in the community still cutting palms.
Joan stands outside his neighbor's house at night in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. Water accumulates after a rainstorm. The last big storm came about three years ago, people say. San Juanico is facing their biggest drought in history. The town well is drying up and this past summer, residents had serious issues with the water levels. The government recently announced the cancelation of any new water contracts until the new well is dug. The immediacy of the issue faced by this small frontier town highlights just how close to the brink of survival many of these communities are and may provide a map for how to, or not to, approach the systemic problem.
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Joan stands outside his neighbor's house at night in San Juanico, Baja California, Mexico, January, 2021. Water accumulates after a rainstorm. The last big storm came about three years ago, people say. San Juanico is facing their biggest drought in history. The town well is drying up and this past summer, residents had serious issues with the water levels. The government recently announced the cancelation of any new water contracts until the new well is dug. The immediacy of the issue faced by this small frontier town highlights just how close to the brink of survival many of these communities are and may provide a map for how to, or not to, approach the systemic problem.

Until We Are Gone - Baja California

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.

Sofia Aldinio Visual Storyteller

Sofia Aldinio is an Argentine-American documentary photographer and multimedia storyteller.
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