To Preserve and Protect

The mission statement of the archaeology department of the Tohono O'odham nation is remarkably similar to that of the Nation Park System: preserve and protect. In a way, this makes perfect sense. Unlike many Archaeology organizations, the TON archaeology department is not focused on unearthing archaeology sites for analysis. The oral tradition of the Tohono O'odham already connects them with their past. Instead the Tohono O'odham archaeology department focuses on primarily on defended the many cultural and spiritual sites that exist from the development interests of the area, preserve and protect.

It is clear from Peter Steere's speech, delivered to us at the Tohono O'odham museum, that there are countless archaeological sites. The land is dotted with them, and preserving and protecting them is a daunting task for anyone. The TON largely tries to achieve their goals by working closely with different development groups and the border patrol so that they can recognize and avoid harming cultural sites. Steere even delivers month speeches to new border patrol officers regarding preserving and protecting archaeological sites.

I found it particularly interesting that Steere mention that the term "Hohokam", when referring to the O'odham's ancestors, is culturally insensitive. He said that the term "Hohokam" infers that they are dead and long gone when, infact, the Hohokam became the O'odham. The belief that this term is culturally insensitive must be shared only among the most traditional of the O'odham like Joe Joaquin, one of Steere's close associates. Many O'odham used the term "Hohokam" freely, and even the employees at Casa Grande used the term.