First-Ever Meeting of Cocopah (Cucupah) Nations In Mexico
Tribal members separated in 1853 by the historic Gadsen Purchase reached out for common heritage for the first time
in the town of Pozas de Arvisu a few miles south of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora the home of the Mexican branch of the Cucupah Tribe.
The meeting, held Sunday, March 7th, was designed to bring tribal members together from the state of Arizona and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to allow their communities to learn about tribal customs in both countries.
Hundreds of people attended the event,including children bussed in from local schools, to get a first-hand look at the arts and history of the tribes. Hermes Flores, a Cucupah historian said the event was created to allow both communities the opportunity to learn about tribal customs in the U.S. and Mexico.
Attendees were treated to musical performances and an exhibition of a tribal game of stick ball. They could also purchase arts and craft items handmade by tribal members. Top-selling item were the flutes made from bamboo by artisans Antonio Santos and Santiago Reyes who gave musical demonstrations of their wares to delight young and old, alike.
There was a serious aspect to the meeting which entailed making certain the needs of the two tribes are not overlooked. Jose Pagafox, mayor off the city of San Luis Rios Colorado said his office will start working with the Mexican tribe to see about getting them a museum similar to the Cocopah Tribe located in Somerton, Arizona.
This story was edited from the March 10th edition of the Yuma Daily Sun bylined Louie Villalobos.
Editorial note – It would make sense that officials from both tribes contact the U.S Immigration Service and Border Patrol to ensure safe passage across the border areas between the two tribes to avoid the problems being encountered on the Tohono O’dham Reservation with their Mexican counterparts at the border crossings.
Native Unity - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.
in the town of Pozas de Arvisu a few miles south of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora the home of the Mexican branch of the Cucupah Tribe.
The meeting, held Sunday, March 7th, was designed to bring tribal members together from the state of Arizona and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to allow their communities to learn about tribal customs in both countries.
Hundreds of people attended the event,including children bussed in from local schools, to get a first-hand look at the arts and history of the tribes. Hermes Flores, a Cucupah historian said the event was created to allow both communities the opportunity to learn about tribal customs in the U.S. and Mexico.
Attendees were treated to musical performances and an exhibition of a tribal game of stick ball. They could also purchase arts and craft items handmade by tribal members. Top-selling item were the flutes made from bamboo by artisans Antonio Santos and Santiago Reyes who gave musical demonstrations of their wares to delight young and old, alike.
There was a serious aspect to the meeting which entailed making certain the needs of the two tribes are not overlooked. Jose Pagafox, mayor off the city of San Luis Rios Colorado said his office will start working with the Mexican tribe to see about getting them a museum similar to the Cocopah Tribe located in Somerton, Arizona.
This story was edited from the March 10th edition of the Yuma Daily Sun bylined Louie Villalobos.
Editorial note – It would make sense that officials from both tribes contact the U.S Immigration Service and Border Patrol to ensure safe passage across the border areas between the two tribes to avoid the problems being encountered on the Tohono O’dham Reservation with their Mexican counterparts at the border crossings.
Native Unity - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.
posted by Bobbie Hart O'Neill @ 10:07 AM
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