The Tohono are one of the groups which I did studies on for my Masters with Dr. Jim Piecuch (with the Journal of the American Revolution), as they came to my mind and light of the people saying they would like to have a wall built since many do not have any awareness of the Native American tribes Living On the Border who have been given permission legally by their treaties to cross on both sides of it.
And yet they have been disrespected by border patrol....
Tohono O’odham and other groups (like the Kickapoo or the Apache) have been present for a long time - noting how much they need others to truly respect what they feel with Borders not just being lines or walls.
They have lives here that NEED to respected - and as one of the key things to be focused on in the first 100 days of office is to build a Wall (
Here Is What Donald Trump Wants To Do In His First 100 Days ), I do hope there is serious consideration to the folks living there who have been speaking for a LONG time.
As a point to remember, their tribal land runs 75 miles along the Arizona/Mexico border and they have been VERY direct in saying why it is a major concern seeing their Treaty Land Rights not considered at all if focusing on building a border wall on their tribal land...and they’re not alone in this endeavor, as they have the support of powerful members of Congress not making it truly possible to even build wall - meaning there will be a 75-mile-wide gap in Trump’s border wall, should he get the opportunity to build it. BUT The tribes have long noted their ancestral rights - and if more of the same will continue in violating what they were promised, it is not going to be a small issue (
Border Fence Must Skirt Objections From Arizona Tribe ) - Vice Chairman Verlon Jose was on record saying "Over my dead body will anyone build a wall there. I will personally do whatever is necessary to make sure a wall is not built there," as he noted the tribe's position against the wall. There are a lot of issue the local Tribes already face when it comes to multiple issues...profiling from police figures due to concerns about drug smugglers, crime and terrorism - and others who lack birth certificates (As they have different ways of identification as Indigenous People on their own Reservation) have had to deal with not being considered American citizens even though they were born on the Arizona portion of the reservation.
Prayers do go to Jose, who was among a small group of tribal leaders who met with Trump in June of this year. President Elect Trump announced a Native American Coalition, although he has not offered any Indian policy specifics, including whether he would build the wall without the consent of the Tohono O'odham Nation (
Leaders of three tribes meet Donald Trump during Arizona stop ).
As my friend Aaron Carapella said best, time to stand in solidarity.
And for more info:
Also, For more reference, one can go to "Tohono O'odham Nation – Living through the border | U.S. - Mexico Borderlands" (
Tohono O’odham Nation – Living through the border )
For another awesome review, I would recommend others investigate the ways that Tohono live their lives...more here in "A Voice in the Desert" ((
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjlG7P3NDWU )- "This film details the story of the Tohono O'odham whose traditional lands are bisected by the US-Mexico border fence built in 2008. The fence and the subsequent militarization greatly impact the O'odham way of life.
And for things to remember, I am thankful others are keeping this in mind (
Beyond The Wall: Border fence cuts Tohono O'odham Nation in half )
Other tribes on the U.S. Canadian border have had the same exact battles and have noted these things since the Jay Treaty...so it makes a difference doing historical review on the matter before going into things based on fear. The bottom line reality is that our leaders, just as with the previous president, must be held accountable - and this is one of the starting points to become prepared for.
Treaties are massive issues for Native Peoples and part of greatness means learning to honor your word to the people who are HOSTS of the Land - and remembering how seriously God took it when boundaries were violated that ancestors took time to set up....
"Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess." (Deuteronomy 19:14)
"Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" (Deuteronomy 27:17)
"Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set." (Proverbs 22:28)
Pulpit Commentary says of the prohibition against moving boundaries:
"In a country where property was defined by landmarks - stones or some such objects - nothing was easier than to remove these altogether, or to alter their position. That this was a common form of fraud and oppression we gather from the stringency of the enactments against the offence (see Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; and comp. Job 24:2; Proverbs 22:28)."
If we did not learn from the past with violating Sovereign Nations in their territory, it will show in how we treat the Native People from here on out - and not letting nationalism keep us from honoring. Period. It was already enough of a problem with #StandingRock, #NDP #StandingRock! #NoDAPL! - BUT if trying to make a nation "Great" means VIOLATING in great ways, that is not something we need to see as a leap forward.....and as believers, we HAVE to hold the line.
