They always say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and after looking at the pictures and artwork in the Tohono O’odham Nation Culture Center and Museum. The old adage rang true. In every painting or picture, you could see the great joy the Tohono O’odham people felt with their ceremonies or fear they had of things turning bad if the ceremonies were not followed properly. The pictures showed the history and connection the Tohono O’odham people had with their roots and land. For our society in the United States, it is easy to lose focus of our roots and erase history from our minds. It is hard to imagine a society dedicated to preserving their historical roots.
Another aspect of this museum is their tribute to the brave souls form the Tohono O’odham nation who fought, and some who gave their lives, to defend our nation. After years of being impeded upon by the United States/Mexico, there were still individuals still willing to go defend us and their own people. When reading the reasoning behind their motivation for fighting, one said she went in fear of their land being taken by Communists. Though she was motivated by fear of communists like the rest of the nation. They wanted their sacred land to be protected. From back then until now, the Tohono O’odham people still hold the same argument. They just want their land to be protected.
I also found that super interesting. I expected a typical history or anthropology museum with potsherds and bones everywhere you look. (and small, ugly plastic dioramas of nature scenes ) however the amount of military memorabilia for tribal members was impressive. It equated to, or even surpassed the historical exhibits.
Also, the fear of communism during the red scare and the Cold War was profuse in America, but I didn’t know it even involved the indigenous populations. This really is contrary to popular belief that native Americans had no concept of private property were communists.
#abolishprivateproperty