Walking up to that mountain, I had no idea what we were about to get ourselves into. In my head we are going to be on a narrow path through a million different species of cacti and finally come face to face with a rattle snake. But the hike continued and we never saw a rattle snake. Though, we did see a million different species of cacti (so at least I was right on one thing). We never made it to the top of that mountain, but we did drive up to the top of another mountain. I began hiking up and found myself sitting at the top of several rocks starring into the distance, taking it all in. It was the type of scenery you have to see to understand.
Then came Abby and I’s 3 hour intermission (or nap), rightfully earned after hiking for almost 5 miles.
We then ended the night with a talk from Bill Broyles. He spoke with great knowledge about the Tohono O’odham people. But what I noticed the most from his talk is how greatly today’s controversial and modern political topics effect the Tohono O’odham people. Grappling with climate change and the border debate, the Tohono O’odham people are stuck directly in the middle of the battle for justice.
Emily,
In the Bill Broyles talk the O’odham position within the current fragile political climate also stuck out to me. We had multiple people tell us, with heavy disclaimers against placing themselves on the political spectrum, that they were heavily against the wall. It must feel weird and kind of terrifying for the O’odham people that these political battles, in which they have little to no say, will affect them so directly. Of course, this has largely been the case since the Europeans came into their territory initially, but it calls into question how much autonomy the O’odham people truly have. The O’odham people while we were there seemed to be willing to do everything within their power to prevent a wall on their land, but I wonder when push comes to shove whether they will be able to stop the construction if funding is approved by Congress.
Emily, I like your idea that it was the kind of scenery that you have to experience to understand. I often have this feeling like I should take picture but that the pictures will fall so short of conveying the full experience of being that, that it is almost pointless to take them. Maybe its the fact that the view is 360 or that it is accompanied with the smell of the air and the wind and warmth of the sun.