Spring 2026

“This nonprofit is not about prevention. It’s about not regretting. We started Indigenous Wild Horse Society because the wild horses are more than life. They are relatives,” says Tribal Representative Ronda Kauk. beat for us here, and they breath the same air as us.” Those fighting the upcoming roundup are everything from perplexed to furious with the government’s plan. Indigenous leaders want the horses left where they are and placed under their care. “We want a seat at the table [with government agencies]. We have a management plan, and they haven’t been managed,” Rana Saulque says. Nico Georis emphasizes that his Native American “neighbors” know more than anyone else about what must be done. “These folks hold the key to how to take care of the land. The concept of wilderness is like a slur to them— like having a child and not combing their hair.” Ronda Kauk says they plan to manage the herd as closely as possible to the way their ancestors did. “We want to take care of the land from what we learned from the past until now. And, to prevent the animals from harm: roundups, displacements, slaughter pipelines, loss of habitat, and them not being treated like a problem—but like a present.”To all involved, it’s vital that the Indigenous rep- resentatives are respected and listened to most. “We got a second chance to have our voices heard for our ancestors,” Kauk says. “For some reason, it’s coming to us and to other people who are interested to say: ‘We need to speak up. We need to be a voice for the horses.’ It’s scary, but we’re willing!” Gallery owner Patrica Qualls says her efforts to be part of that voice are but a drop in a huge bucket. “For me, it’s how can we open our hearts and scrape the barnacles off our hearts? What can we do to make a softer, gentler world?” She, too, emphasizes that the tribes need to be in charge. “Imagining these horses that have walked on that wild land for many generations, to think that they may be moved and put in transport and broken… anything could happen once they leave that land. If they don’t have these guardians, those little spirits can be broken.” Qualls, Grossman, Sheila Georis, Saulque and Kauk, are donating their time, talents, and valuable gallery space to raise money for the Indigenous Wild Horse Society, which is thought to be the only Indigenous run group of its kind. “This nonprofit is not about pre- vention—it’s about not regretting,” Kauk says. Qualls ensures attendees will have no regrets seeing these photos—they will be life changing. “Come with like-minded, open-hearted people and let’s gather in a circle of good people who care about innocent beings.” “Free and Wild: Horses of the Numu” will be shown at the Patricia Qualls Gallery (located on Dolores Street between Fifth and Sixth in Carmel) from May 1-8. A Variety of events will take place during the week. To learn more or to donate, visit www.patriciaqualls.com or www.indigenouswild- horsesociety.com , and to see more of Grossman’s images, visit www.freeandwild.org . With their equine family members’ wellbeing at stake, outsiders have stepped up to help Saulque, Kauk and other tribe members with their fight. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 6 115