Native America Calling

Tanisha Tucker (Tohono O’odham) demonstrates how to use a kuipad (picking stick) to knock down Saguaro fruit in the Saguaro National Park West (photo courtesy of Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan).

Thursday, June 13, 2019 – Saguaro fruit harvest time

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In Arizona, June is the traditional time Saguaro cactus fruits are ripe. It is also the Tohono O’odham New Year. For traditional harvests, the fruit is knocked down with sticks, called kuipad, made from dried Saguaro ribs. The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into juice, syrup, jam or a fermented ceremonial wine among other things. We’ll hear about the traditional importance of Saguaro cactus fruit for Native people in the Sonoran Desert.

Guests:

Tanisha Tucker (Tohono O’odham) – Saguaro Bahidaj harvester

Terrol Dew Johnson (Tohono O’odham) – CEO of TOCA (Tohono O’odham Community Action) and contemporary basket weaver

Yvette Ventura (Tohono O’odham) – youth coordinator the Schuk Toak district

Break 1 Music: Learned from the Late Ralph Kotay (song) Kenneth Cozad & Group (artist) Songs of Our Old People – Old-Time Round Dance Songs of Oklahoma (album)

Break 2 Music: High Above The Eagle Soars (song) Blackstone (artist) On The Oregon Trail (album)

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