💨 Abstract

The article describes a sacred harvesting ritual of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Cousins Tanisha Tucker Lohse and Maria Francisco gather saguaro cactus fruit, crucial to their spirituality. The ritual, taking place in summer, is a rebirth celebration and connects them to their ancestors and the environment. The process involves intricate methods of collecting, blessing, and processing the fruit. The practice reinforces traditional ways of life and resists the loss of their customs and land.

Courtesy: WTOP Staff