Ep. 54 Ha:ṣañ Bahidaj (Saguaro Fruit) - A Cultural Story
About this episode
This episode features a cultural story about the sacred tradition of harvesting saguaro fruit, honoring the legacy of Amelia Chiago-Martinez.
A CULTURAL STORY Tune in and listen to the cultural story of the Ha:ṣañ Bahidaj (saguaro fruit) harvest, a sacred summer tradition deeply rooted in O’odham history. In this special archive episode, I feature an excerpt of my late mother Amelia Chiago-Martinez (baḍ) to honor her legacy and the generations of ancestral knowledge she passed on to me. Recorded in July 2020, prior to her passing, this conversation serves as a beautiful time capsule, celebrating the rich heritage of the ha:ṣañ bahidaj (saguaro fruit) and the cultural significance of the harvest. The sacred tradition of harvesting the ha:san bahidaj (saguaro fruit) spans countless generations within’ O’odham communities. Born in 1957 in the now-uninhabited village of Emika, Amelia later settled in Hickiwan with her family, carrying deep traditional knowledge that was simply a part of her everyday life. You will hear Amelia tell this beautiful story in her own words, followed by her own translation in the Tohono O’odham language. Photo by T. Andrew. Pictured L to R, Amelia and her oldest grand-daughters Mia Lopez and Sarah Lopez, Amelia holding her basket, Tina and Amelia (mother and daughter), Amelia in her younger…
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