ROOTS / RAICES
Origins of the people
Guardians of Tucson's Birthplace
Long before the arrival of Spanish missionaries and the takeover of Euro-Americans, this spot along a precious desert river was a small O'odham settlement called Chuk Shon, meaning "Black Base", for the black rock-covered hill nearby. When Padre Eusebio Kino and others established missions in the Pimeria Alta, they pronounced it "Tuc-son"-- as best they could, and named the life-giving river the Santa Cruz. Centuries later, now part of the United States, we recognize and use a completely anglicized version of this ancient indigenous name: "TOO-sahn." The signature black rock-covered hill that defines Tucson was later called Sentinel Peak and is now affectionately called "A" Mountain, after the University of Arizona.
The barrios (neighborhoods) that surround "A" Mountain today remain largely Mexican-American, Native, black, and Chinese. As always, tension between poverty and inequality against corporate development and Anglo gentrification is an evolving constant-- especially as family elders pass away and societal pressures increase on the young and growing populations made poor.
Yet, silently, eternally, guardians of the people and of the earth are here. They do not prevent changes, but they are here and are not forgotten. And they have been here since the beginning. They plant the seeds of survival and wisdom in every new generation...
The barrios (neighborhoods) that surround "A" Mountain today remain largely Mexican-American, Native, black, and Chinese. As always, tension between poverty and inequality against corporate development and Anglo gentrification is an evolving constant-- especially as family elders pass away and societal pressures increase on the young and growing populations made poor.
Yet, silently, eternally, guardians of the people and of the earth are here. They do not prevent changes, but they are here and are not forgotten. And they have been here since the beginning. They plant the seeds of survival and wisdom in every new generation...
Los Sonorenses
An early piece I did placing together three original Sonoran peoples.
