S-ke:g Taṣ! (“Hello” in Tohono O’odham!)

Hello from Michelle and Emma! The wind whispered us awake this morning. We arose and gathered around the long wood table to munch on granola, cereal, oatmeal- you name it. After satiating ourselves, we plopped into the white van and headed towards Sells, AZ. We were Tohono O'odham Nation bound.  The Tohono O'odham Nation is a Native American reservation that spans across the United States and Mexico border. We took in the expansive desert scenery as we drove. Mountains sprawled across the land, shaping the bright horizon.

Tohono O'odham means desert people.

We arrived at the museum; the building was beautiful and the people exceptionally hospitable. We met with a docent who shared Tohono O'odham traditions, customs, and history with our group. He explained the nation's strong oral tradition, stating that the nation did not have a written language until the 1980s. He also detailed the relationship between tradition and modern life. After the docent's talk, we toured the museum and learned about the Miss Tohono O'odham Nation pageant. Our tour guide grew up on the reservation, and broached topics ranging from language to indigenous food.

All the talk of traditional foods made us very hungry! We were excited to travel to the Desert Rain Cafe to taste the foods of the Tohono O'odham with our own tongues. The meals were delicious. Many of us tried the chia berry smoothies- WOW! We lay in the sun and sipped away.

Simon is loving that smoothie!

Afterward, we headed back to Tucson to visit the Peace Supplies store. Peace Supplies is an organization devoted to locally printing politically charged items. The atmosphere was exciting-music drifted into our youthful ears as young artists created new designs. Many of us purchased stickers, shirts, and buttons with messages related to immigration reform and other pressing issues. 

Buttons in tow, we returned to Casa Mariposa for a free afternoon. Some of us took the time to relax at home, while others hit the town. We made stops at local thrift stores, herbal stores, and small art galleries. The streets of Tucson were bursting with life, and we were thrilled to be immersed in the vibrant area.

Later in the evening, we walked to a nearby restaurant, La Cocina, for a fun last meal! We sat around an outdoor space heater that radiated wonderful warmth and listened to the live blue grass band. Some tots danced around to the beat of the folksy fiddle. We ate like queens and kings, even enjoying some delicious ice cream at the culmination of the meal.

The gang having a ball at La Cocina.  

The day was quite relaxed, and we were all happy to have a break. We had time to reflect and time to enjoy each others' company before we part ways tomorrow. 

If you would like some political swag of your own, visit www.peacesupplies.org