Joe points out an interesting part of our topic: How does the culture of a place change when such a basic need is taken away? The progression of contact (from the mountain men to Anglo settlers) has created simultaneous problems with how the O’odham survive and function. Frustration arose from both the outside community and the insiders because of the growing perception that the O’odham were lazy, rather than lacking a vital resource to survive/ create a product. The United States government continually underestimated the need for water and only recently (with the Salt River- Pima Maricopa Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988) did they give the warranted amount and water rights over to them. I would like to look further into how the O’odham have tried to reach government agencies for aid during the 40 year drought, as well as how they are represented currently. My readings have spanned a good bit in to how water rights were fought over, but there still remains a problem over how these are viewed within a sacred context. I also need to look more into how current residents feel about their land/ water and if they feel the government has treated them fairly. Also if there are differences in everyday water usage in and outside of the reservation, as far as farming techniques and conservation.
Posted by duckworths at April 24, 2005 10:42 PMfor Sara and Joe:
For me, the overarching question is how Desert People relate to everyday water use? Because it's a scarce resource and a (maybe even the main) limiting factor, we expect elaboration of behavior and attitudes, and clearly there's plenty of folklore that reflects past importance. But I'm curious about the empirical question of how water is accessed and managed for mundane everyday (1) personal/domestic and (2) agriculture/livestock use. What do people actually DO on a day-to-day basis?
You're certainly right to be looking at the cultural consequences of diminished water supply, and the uses of government services and aid, and the whole higher-level political economy of water, but I'd urge you to keep your eyes open for what people actually DO in their daily lives. Easy enough to see what WE do (carry water, always think about being thirsty), but what about THEM?
Posted by: Hugh at April 25, 2005 04:18 PMBetween both Sara and I we are gradually discovering the dynamics of water within the O'odham world. In looking at their history, I think a focus on the use of water is the most important aspect before the mid-1800's but after this point the paramount concern was just getting the water and the acknowledgement of their water rights. As I read the articles I get a sense of a people fighting to preserve their way of traditional life. In trying to work within the new system they change themselves and are molded into the institutions and structures such as capitalism, corporations and more structured leadership that they are trying to compete with.
Posted by: jf at April 26, 2005 12:01 PM