Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

February 20, 2022

PHOENIX: O'odham Way of Life does not include digging up human remains, by Ofelia Rivas

Huhu-k'am Platform Mounts

PHOENIX: O'odham Way of Life does not include digging up human remains, by Ofelia Rivas

Article copyright Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham
Censored News

O'odham (the people) are descendants of the Huhu-k'am ( the ones that are gone). The ancient people were architects of massive communities though-out the valley of what is now the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, extending to what is named Snake town to the Big House along the Gila River to the expansive settlements in Tucson and east of Benson, Arizona to northern Chihuahua, Mexico and to the sea.

The ancient people built massive strategically located settlements for trade and commerce but also for well-being and health. The Huhu-k'am created and utilizes expansive irrigation systems, some are still in use as canals by the city of Phoenix, some have become major roadways.



They grew a large variety of ancient seeds the O'odham still plant today. The ancient people made incredible pottery-ware and basket-ware, that were both functional and aesthetic.

The ancient ancestors exercised applied astronomy to the Him'dag, the way of life. These great achievements of a society is dependent on friendly relationships with other societies, the practice of governmental organizations based on equality for the general welfare for the people, and practice of the way of life, which is to regard all life equal and strive to live in balance at all levels, personal, family and the community.

These honorable people's burial place was recently desecrated to build a modern apartment building for the disadvantaged members of today's society.

The Huhu-k'am and the descendants, the O'odham did not practice grave digging or any type of removal of a person from their burial place.

Today a reburial ritual was created by a specific group, the "Reburial group" to appease the federal and state dominating lands and interpretation of federal repatriation regulation.

However, in all the ritual and maneuvering so-called protocol, humanity has been left out of the processes.

It is inhumane and illegal to dig up dead people from their graves, it is inhumane and illegal to rob such graves' personal belongings. It is inhumane to store human remains.

Today's corrupt and compromised tribal government systems not only oppress their own people but also now build multi-million dollar repositories for the storage of human remains and personal belongings called funerary artifacts.

In 2022 where is the legislation to address this ancient legacy of foreign societies that dominate the lands, and manipulate with dollars, in order to dig up graves in this so-called developed society.

Where is the enforcement of legal law to protect ancient human remains. Where are indigenous legal think tanks and indigenous lawmakers to address this ongoing desecration of our people, our next generation's inheritance.

The O'odham practicing the Him'dag are overwhelmed by the continuous damage of the natural balance now defined as "spiritual" balance.

Supporting all defenders and resisters.


Read more:

Phoenix New Times
'Phoenix is building new public housing -- and unearthing ancient Indigenous graves'

Censored News
O'odham Stronghold Prayer Run Phoenix to Oak Flat

Article copyright Ofelia Rivas, Censored News.
No portion of this article may be used in any manner without written permission. This includes books, dissertations, films, news and any other use.

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