- This event has passed.
“The Border Wall and the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Traditions and Spiritual Freedom” presentation by Verlon José (Tohono O’odham)
January 11, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, join Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Indigenous Interests,” which will feature “The Border Wall and the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Traditions and Spiritual Freedom” by Verlon José (Tohono O’odham). This free Zoom online presentation will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time).
Tohono O’odham elder Verlon José has written, “When I grew up living near the U.S./Mexico border, the Tohono O’odham elders taught me that our sacred mountains and springs – as well as our most important spiritual ceremonies and pilgrimages – occur on both sides of the international boundary. We traveled to areas not knowing we were in another country, but knowing we were on the land of our ancestors and family. I learned that we have a basic human responsibility to protect the land and the people.” Having been both an elected leader of the Tohono O’odham and a traditional practitioner, he has attempted to explain to the federal government how important the continuity of Tohono O’odham sacred and religious traditions are important not only to his people but also for the health and well-being of the land itself. “We must continue our traditional and religious practices to keep the world in balance,” he says. Mr. José is a Tohono O’odham traditional religious practitioner and has served as the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Legislative Council Chairman and as the Nation’s Vice Chairman.
To register for the program go to https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e5ZmY0m4TjKQ8QBqyOl1Mw. For more information contact Old Pueblo at info@oldpueblo.org or 520-798-1201.
Flyer: 20210511-20220308(v1)IndigenousInterestsPresentationsSeries
Caption: Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Indigenous Interests” free Zoom webinar series, hosted by Old Pueblo Board of Directors members Martina Dawley (Hualapai-Diné), Maegan Lopez (Tohono O’odham), and Anabel Galindo (Pascua Yaqui), is made possible by a grant from Arizona Humanities. The series provides Native American presenters with a forum for discussing issues important to Indigenous peoples today.