San Xavier, AZ- Hundreds of law enforcement officers from Arizona and the Southwestern U.S. joined members of the Tohono O’odham Nation in a memorial service to bid farewell to Tohono O’odham Police… Read More
Pisinemo, AZ- It is probably not the most remote place on the Tohono O’odham Nation, but it is among the top three or four spots. That is where tribal and district leaders… Read More
Sells, AZ- Most communities on the Tohono O’odham Nation traditionally are welcoming places, but times have changed, at least temporarily. Since the coronavirus pandemic hit the Nation last March, communities have been… Read More
Tucson, AZ- In what can be called a breakthrough in Pima County politics, a Tohono O’odham woman has become the Democratic nominee for Pima County Recorder after winning the Aug. 4 Primary… Read More
Commentary by Stanley Throssell Last week I drove to the livestock center west of Sells to see if anyone would show up to take a test for COVID-19. Unsurprisingly there were vehicles… Read More
Sells, AZ- Tohono O’odham health officials issued a notice that several people who attended a funeral service in late June have tested positive for COVID-19, and have urged those who attended the… Read More
Sells, AZ- Gabriella Cázares-Kelly is no stranger to politics beyond the boundaries of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and this summer she is all in as she seeks the post of Pima County… Read More
Sells, AZ- In an effort to protect people who live in Sells District communities and those who work in or visit the district, the Sells District Council passed district legislation that requires… Read More
Sells, AZ- Students from Tohono O’odham Community College’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Club took their education beyond the classroom when they visited the Arizona State Legislature in March to urge state legislators… Read More
Sells, AZ- Work on a plan to make a per capita distribution of non-gaming revenue to members of the Tohono O’odham Nation is continuing after being derailed by COVID-19 that sent home… Read More
Sells, AZ- Tribal health and emergency officials told the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council that the Tohono O’odham Nation’s first death attributed to COVID-19 occurred last weekend. The report was made during an… Read More
Sells, AZ- Just as COVID-19 has started slowly in other parts of the world and U.S., then creeped forward, it is showing itself on the Tohono O’odham Nation. On March 31, Tohono… Read More
Sells, AZ- A plan that will send $1,000 to each enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation was adopted by the tribal government, but it will be awhile before members get the… Read More
Prescott Valley, AZ- Whoever said the third time is a charm has not experienced what the Baboquivari High School girls’ basketball team has the past three years. For the third straight year… Read More
Glendale, AZ- Hundreds of Tohono O’odham gathered under the cavernous entryway of Desert Diamond Casinos’ West Valley Casino to celebrate the opening of the facility on Feb. 19. The tribal members arrived… Read More
Sells, AZ- Though activities of the 82nd Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair got underway on Jan. 30, the big kick-off event is the annual parade through downtown Sells. Mild temperatures… Read More
Topawa, AZ- When you see Autumn Nelson dribble a basketball down the court, she never looks down, her head is up and her eyes are scanning her teammates and their defenders. She… Read More
Topawa, AZ- Insistent rain kept some young Tohono O’odham away from the Dec. 27 Tohono O’odham Youth Conference in Topawa because of rushing water in highway ditches, but scores of young people… Read More
Topawa, AZ- Visitors who made the trip to the Second Himdag Ki: Celebration of the Arts show and sale got to see a wide variety of work, from familiar painting and weaving… Read More
Sells, AZ- Riana Lopez says her very first memory is of her and her family traveling with their horses to compete in a rodeo. She was about four years old. Today she… Read More
Sells, AZ- Maria Pablo, Miss Tohono O’odham Nation 2019 during her year-long reign has been urging young and old alike to buckle up when they are in a vehicle. It seems an… Read More
Las Vegas, NV- A Tohono O’odham woman who was given her first horse when she was just four years old turned her riding experience into the title of 2020 Indian National Finals… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Over the past 30 years San Xavier District has selected a young woman to serve as its royalty and represent the district. On Oct. 14 the district’s Community Volunteer… Read More
Sells, AZ- The bright colors of an American flag draped the coffin wheeled into the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council Chambers by Tohono O’odham military veterans. It was the final visit to the… Read More
Ajo, AZ- For a 17-year-old he seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Andre Juan Cipriano is from Gu Vo Village, and last weekend, on Sept. 14, he… Read More
Pnoenix, AZ- When you say it out loud, people might ask you to say it again, but it is true that O’odham students are attending Tohono O’odham Community College classes in classrooms… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- For a small urban school with an almost 100 percent enrollment of Tohono O’odham students, a gift of $50,000 is like a shot of adrenaline. This month a check… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Naomi Monte sat at a round dinner table at the Tohono O’odham Education Student Recognition Ceremony cradling her one-month-old girl in her arms and surrounded by her four other… Read More
Sells, AZ- Jennifer Enriquez has been the Principal at Indian Oasis Elementary School since February, and every day at work she is greeted by construction workers. Over the months they have gutted… Read More
Sells, AZ- In front of a packed crowd in the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council Chambers in Sells, Ned Norris Jr. took his oath of office on June 14 to start his four-year… Read More
Sells, AZ- Ned Norris Jr. was returned by voters to the chairman’s post of the Tohono O’odham Nation, capturing nearly 60 percent of the votes cast in the Nation’s May 25, General… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Elders who attended the 21st Tohono O’odham Elders Day were hard pressed to find an extra place at the table as close to 1,000 elders filled the Entertainment Center… Read More
Schuk Toak, AZ- Evelyn Young graduates from Baboquivari High School this month. She is a top student and a very good basketball player. Her dad wanted her to attend a college to… Read More
Sells, AZ- With only Gu Vo District voters participating in the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Primary Election, the voters and candidates in the other 10 districts can turn to the May 25 General… Read More
Topawa, AZ- The retirement send off for Bernard Siquieros by any measure could be called bitter-sweet. Siquieros announced his plan to retire late last year, and on March 28, friends, colleagues, and… Read More
Santa Rosa Ranch, AZ- The displaced students from Santa Rosa Ranch School will return to their village campus later this month, and they will be attending classes in new modular buildings brought… Read More
Sells, AZ- The main business loop in Sells was closed to traffic, a school waila band played festive music, and community members lined the roadside to watch a small parade recognizing the… Read More
Sells, AZ- The theme of the 81st Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair parade was Celebrating the Resiliency of the O’odham Himdag through Beauty, Health and Wellness, but it could just… Read More
Sells, AZ- The deadline for those seeking to run in the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Primary Election in April has passed, and it appears only two chairman/vice chairman teams will be vying for… Read More
Topawa, AZ- The Baboquivari High School Lady Warriors basketball team has been on a winning run the past several years, and this season the team is off to another strong season. Going… Read More
Pan Tak, AZ- Because of freezing nighttime temperatures the 2018 O’odham Camp for youth was turned from an overnight camp into a day camp that still drew over 50 young people. The… Read More
San Isidro, AZ- Tara Sweeney said she had read reports of the hazards exposed at Santa Rosa Ranch School, but when she saw photographs of the condition of the buildings, she knew… Read More
Gu Vo, AZ- Community members from Gu-Vo District gathered Nov. 17, to celebrate Gu-Vo District Day, and they were joined by visitors from other communities on the Tohono O’odham Nation. In addition… Read More
Sells, AZ- The Election Office of the Tohono O’odham Nation released the schedule for next spring’s primary and general elections for chairman and vice-chairmen of the Nation and the 11 districts and… Read More
Vamori, AZ- The annual Warrior Run half-marathon held in Chukut Kuk District draws a wide variety of runners—some fast, some slow, some young and some old. This year’s race was from San… Read More
Topawa, AZ- It was a rough two weeks for two of the three middle school football teams on the Tohono O’odham Nation. One team last week suffered injuries to at least five… Read More
Glendale, AZ- A huge I-beam was lifted into position and secured atop steel framework to mark the start of what builders call the final phase of steelwork at the Desert Diamond Casino… Read More
Topawa- For the Warriors of Baboquivari High School the football season got off to a promising start when they scored on their first play of the season. At home against the Fort… Read More
North Komelic- Ralphina Andres is just 17 years old, and in a few weeks she will be leaving her home and family in North Komelic for what she sees not only as… Read More
Santa Rosa Ranch- Scores of volunteers, many of them skilled contractors in the fields of electric, plumbing and construction, converged on Santa Rosa Ranch School last week to do a day’s work… Read More
Sells- The Tohono O’odham Nation announced in June that it planned to buy more land at Glendale to add to its property there that already is part of the Nation’s federal Indian… Read More
Santa Rosa- Though the day was sunny and the rooms hot, it did not seem to deter the approximately 280 young people gathered for the annual Tohono O’odham Youth Conference. The conference… Read More
San Xavier- Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School closed out the high school graduation season with its 20th annual commencement ceremony June 8. The graduation was held in the Diamond Center at Desert… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham who lost their lives during wartime were remembered and recognized by military veterans and community members during a May 28, Memorial Day observance in Sells. The key speakers at… Read More
San Xavier- The Tohono O’odham Nation’s Elders’ Day commemorated its 20th year with a celebration that appeared to have drawn a near record number of not only Tohono O’odham elders but elders… Read More
Sells- The walkout by teachers in many of the school districts in Arizona had only a minimal affect on schools in Baboquivari Unified School District 40. Teachers in an effort to press… Read More
Topawa- The 2018 Baboquivari High School boys’ baseball team is in unfamiliar territory. The Warriors this week clinched the Region 1A South Championship with a 12-2 record, and they are preparing for… Read More
Sells- The Secretary of the Department of the Interior spent a few hours on the Tohono O’odham Nation during his tour of the border in southern Arizona two weeks ago, and he… Read More
Pisinemo- A large crowd was greeted by an equally large number of vendors and mild weather to the 27th Annual Pisinemo District Day on March 3. The number of people at this… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham high school basketball teams fared well in state championship tournaments last week, winning one and placing second in another. The Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School boys’ team traveled to… Read More
With beautiful weather and a large variety of activities, including games, rodeo, and fair, crowds came out enmasse to the 80th O’odham Wapkial Ha-Tas celebration.Activities were varied and many with a toka… Read More
Sells- The influenza outbreak that has spread to every state in the U.S., and has become deadly, has also hit the Tohono O’odham Nation, with more cases reported than in previous flu… Read More
San Xavier- Nineteen-year-old Sarah Arvicio from South Komelic Village in Chukut Kuk District is the new Miss Tohono O’odham Nation 2018. She was selected after competing in a Jan. 14, pageant held… Read More
Sells- Susan Rodgers is thankful that three men from Sells were visiting the lava tube cave near Flagstaff, AZ at the same time she and her husband were there. Bill Rodgers suffered… Read More
Below, this young steer rider, Miles Crawford of Sacaton, was just one among many rodeo enthusiasts who turned out to compete in the Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Buck Out in Sells.The competition was… Read More
Topawa- For a high school basketball coach, every new season holds the unexpected. Seniors graduate, freshmen join the team from junior high school, and holdovers from last year don’t show up for… Read More
Sells- Veterans Day brought out colorful flags, plenty of people to show their appreciation of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s military veterans, and plenty of veterans too. Officially, Veterans Day was Nov. 11,… Read More
Sells- According national health officials the flu season generally begins in October and can stretch into April. Well the flu season has started on the Tohono O’odham Nation with public health nurses… Read More
Phoenix, AZ- Jason Wood graduated from Phoenix Indian School in 1985, and when he returned home to Santa Rosa Village on the Tohono O’odham Nation he took more than his high school… Read More
Topawa, AZ- The seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls could not tune out what has been happening on professional football fields across the country when the national anthem has been played, so… Read More
Santa Rosa- Residents of Santa Rosa Village were joined by other members of the Tohono O’odham community to enjoy the village’s annual celebration, which featured the recognition of two local women instrumental… Read More
New Fields- As if running a blazing pace to finish first in the half-marathon Warrior Run was not enough, Anthony Francisco took a gulp of water and then ran another three miles… Read More
Sells- Close to 1,700 students returned to schools on the Tohono O’odham Nation in July and August. Six hundred and eight students started classes on Aug. 3 in the Bureau of Indian… Read More
Sells- The first brick has yet to be laid for the Tohono O’odham Nation’s new Desert Diamond Casino West Valley and already there is rumbling about when the profits will be available. … Read More
Phoenix- Youth basketball teams from the Tohono O’odham Nation battled one another to get to the championship game of the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI), but the championship was finally won by… Read More
Photographs belowTopawa- Over two hundred people gathered at the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Cultural Center and Museum June 17 to celebrate the facility’s tenth year in operation. The celebration started early as ceremonial… Read More
San Xavier- Twenty-three seniors received their diplomas during a graduation ceremony for Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School on June 9. The graduating class was the 19th for the Tucson charter school that… Read More
Topawa- Thirty-nine seniors at Baboquivari High School recieved their diplomas during a May 26 graduation ceremony at the school’s athletic field. Heading the list of graduates were 2017 senior class Valedictorian Keyshawn… Read More
Sells- A lengthy court battle has ended with the Tohono O’odham Nation and State of Arizona reaching an agreement that opens up class three gaming at the tribe’s West Valley casino near… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA) closed the doors of its two businesses, the Desert Rain Cafe and Gallery, on April 28, the owner citing the high cost of maintaining space in… Read More
Tucson- Traditional dancers and entertainers from the Tohono O’odham Nation joined members from other Indian tribes in an April 8 celebration to open a permanent exhibit of traditional basketry and fiber art… Read More
Comobabi- Sells resident Mack Humeyestewa took advantage of early morning cool temperatures and breezed to an overall first place finish in the Hemajkam Half Marathon and 2-Person Relay April 1 at Comobabi… Read More
Pisinemo- Clear and sunny weather, a variety of activities and great entertainment brought people out in force for the 26th Annual Pisinemo District Day held March 4 at the recreation center in… Read More
Sells- Alex Soto, a Tohono O’odham rapper with a conscience, spent two hours last month at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Arizona Highway 86, shooting footage for a new album. He said… Read More
Topawa- Stephon Hendricks is just 13 years old and he admits to having gotten into trouble for talking back and having some anger issues. But rather than continue on that negative path,… Read More
Sells, AZ- Thousands turned out for the 79th Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair held in Sells, AZ from Jan. 28 – 29. The annual parade was led by grand marshal… Read More
Topawa- Over the past two decades Joseph T. Joaquin has become recognized as a leader and expert in the laws and methods of repatriation of Native American funerary items, and last week… Read More
Sells- Final preparations are getting underway for the Tohono O’odham Nation’s 79th Annual O’odham Wapkial Ha-Tas, which will be held Jan. 27-29 in Sells. Among the featured events are an All-Indian junior… Read More
Sells- A year ago Jaylene Wood was preparing to compete in the Miss Tohono O’odham Nation pageant, probably not thinking of the many places she would visit and the many people she… Read More
Tucson- Terrol Dew Johnson has in the past taken traditional basket weaving materials and woven them into non-traditional shapes and configurations, but this time he has outdone himself. Johnson’s latest works are… Read More
Sells- A Veterans Day parade got underway bright and early on Nov. 11 in Sells to kick off activities attended by Tohono O’odham veterans and community members to recognize and celebrate members… Read More
San Xavier- Hundreds of people gathered at the annual Wa:k Ceksan Tas to celebrate O’odham basket weavers, and one of San Xavier’s expert basket makers was honored during the parade. Esther Jaimes… Read More
Sells- An effort to remove the chairman and vice chairman of Gu Vo District through a removal process that places the responsibility on the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council failed when the council… Read More
Santa Rosa- When Kellum Whitman took his grandmother to his sixth-grade class at Santa Rosa Day School to celebrate grandparents’ day, he found out a few things about her he didn’t previously… Read More
Sells- A threatened court fight over interpretation of the Tohono O’odham Constitution as it applies to the tribal government’s Executive and Legislative branches started last week with somewhat of a fizzle. The… Read More
Sells- The former chairwoman of the now defunct Hia-Ced District who was charged with fraud and abuse of office for actions she took while in office was acquitted of all charges in… Read More
Sells- The third Wednesday of each month Bernadette Salcido gets out of bed at her Tucson home about 3 a.m. and rousts her daughters and grandchildren out of bed too so they… Read More
Tucson- When he was not yet a teenager Albert Alvarez started hitting a punching bag at his home in Sells, not knowing that those first few swings would eventually lead to his… Read More
Pasqua Yaqui- The members of the Sells Angels youth baseball team stretched and tossed baseballs around as they prepared to play yet another game, this one on the road at the sprawling… Read More
By Stanley ThrossellSells- Every year during the Memorial Day observance in Sells, the names of the Tohono O’odham who were killed or died during wartime are read aloud, and family members stand… Read More
Sells- For members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who use the Indian Health Service facilities for their medical care, the difference between June 30, the day before the tribe takes over IHS… Read More
Sells- Organizers of the effort to recall Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Edward D. Manuel and Vice Chairman Verlon Jose are gathering signatures and say they are confident they can collect the almost… Read More
Sells- The Tohono O’odham Nation in just over two short months will take ownership of the health delivery system that the Indian Health Service now has in place on the reservation, but… Read More
San Xavier- Gertie Lopez had only a day to pull together several O’odham musicians and singers to welcome an award-winning choir from Ireland, but her effort paid off as a music fest… Read More
By Martha S. LeeSells- Growing up in Sells was difficult for Calvert Wichapa, but he was always interested in listening to his father’s friends’ stories about wildland firefighting. In his late teens… Read More
Sells- The family of the late Henry Harvey gathered at the Tohono O’odham Veterans Affairs Office in Sells for a ceremony that to them was bitter-sweet. His children and his spouse were… Read More
Sells- The recently selected royalty court of the Tohono O’odham Nation was officially introduced to the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council on Jan. 11, and the three young women will now hit the… Read More
Lucy K. Lopez is the Parade Grand Marshal for the 78th Annual O’odham Wapkial Ha-Tas.For the past 49 years she has been a mainstay at the Papago Cafe in Sells, greeting and… Read More
Sells- After years of being an eyesore with stacks of concrete blocks, piles of broken blocks and discarded wreaths, Veterans’ Memorial Park in downtown Sells is showing signs of progress with the… Read More
Sells- Based on testimony from community members and police reports that some members of an extended family living in Sells have allegedly been involved in a reign of lawlessness ranging from burglaries… Read More
Sells- When Oriana Lopez was four years old she wanted a piano for Christmas. She got a horse. She said she never asked for a horse, but when she was presented one… Read More
San Xavier- Gertrude Lopez has a motor. Not the kind that runs a vehicle or machine, but the type that gives Lopez the energy and enthusiasm to work a full-time job, lead… Read More
Sells- The weather has cooled and people are beginning to put up their Christmas decorations, which means the new year is quickly approaching and with it the 2016 Miss Tohono O’odham Nation… Read More
San Xavier- The Mission San Xavier del Bac, founded by Padre Eusebio Kino in 1692 and known to be the oldest example of European architecture in Arizona was named on the World… Read More
Sells- Regular commuters to the Tohono O’odham Nation have probably seen it hundreds of times without taking notice, driving past it on a daily basis, not knowing that just a few feet… Read More
Schuk Toak- Stephen Williams from Fresnal Village crouched over the tailgate of his truck in the parking lot of Tohono O’odham Community College’s Main Campus. He was preparing the traditional materials he… Read More
A remembrance of the Saint Francis feast, and the pilgrimage to Magdalena for the celebrationTohono O’odham educator and spiritual leader the late Danny Lopez of Big Field Village in 1998 wrote this… Read More
San Simon- Ninety students at the Bureau of Indian Education’s San Simon School participated in a summer reading program, and they’re finding the benefits are two-fold. Not only are they better prepared… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham Community College will receive a grant totaling $5 million over the next five years that will help the school retain enrolled students and transition high school students into college,… Read More
San Xavier– As a walker or bicyclist commuting to work and having to contend with traffic across the vehicle bridge that crosses the Santa Cruz River in San Xavier District is not… Read More
Sells- As construction at the site of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s West Valley Resort ramps up toward a planned opening late this year, the fight between the tribe and the State of… Read More
From The Runner archives: Papago Runner, March 30, 1979, Volume 3 Number 5 “There are 200 helpless children who are in those buildings. They won’t have a chance if anything goes wrong.”… Read More
Sells- A good education is the glue that holds nations and societies together. Through education we preserve our traditions, enrich our culture, and foster a progressive society, which is why Baboquivari Unified… Read More
San Xavier- Lacey A. Humeyestewa and Valentina Pintor headed the 2015 graduating class of Ha:san Leadership and Preparatory School during a commencement ceremony June 12 in the Diamond Center at Desert Diamond… Read More
Schuk Toak- Three teenagers who attended high schools hundreds of miles apart signed letters of intent to attend and play basketball at Tohono O’odham Community College. They signed the letters in a… Read More
Topawa- Several years ago when the U.S. Postal Service was cutting back its post offices and service centers, the small outpost at Topawa was on the chopping block, but it survived and… Read More
Sells- On Apr. 25, during the Tohono O’odham Nation’s 2015 Primary Election an initiative to dissolve the Hia-Ced District passed by a vote of 1,346 to 1,209. When the initiative goes into effect, Hia-Ced… Read More
Sells- For those who cannot wait to hear about the April 25 Tohono O’odham Nation Primary Election results, you can take a seat at election central, which will be located in the… Read More
Sells- This is the political season and elected posts are up for a vote, from district council seats to district chairman posts to the Nation’s chairman, and half the seats on the… Read More
North Komelik- For two decades O’odham have come together to be part of the Unity Run, a relay style run that courses through the four O’odham sister tribe’s lands. The run unifies… Read More
Glendale, AZ- Construction at the Tohono O’odham Nation’s West Valley Resort site is reaching a stage where a metal skeleton can be seen by passersby as work progresses on the $400 million… Read More
2015 Four-Person Co-ed Relay1st Place winners Team BoogeeJessica Soto, Damian Deporto, Antonio Flores, Luis Huerta. 2nd Place WinnersLeg A-LiciousNatasha Hill, Bobby Wilson, Ace Charette, Lydia Jennings. 3rd Place WinnersTeam TaylorTiffany Shilow, Wayne… Read More
Comobabi- First time runners and veteran participants of the annual HOPP Half Marathon and Marathon called the course from Sells to Nolic to Comobabi challenging. Trent Taylor, 33, from Ganado and Second… Read More
San Simon- Joselyn Garcia, Sadie Belton, and Kristen Sam are the only seniors on the Tohono O’odham High School girls’ basketball team that is off to a great start, but before the… Read More
Sells- Courtney Green, who almost a year ago was the second runner up in the Miss Tohono O’odham Nation pageant, was elevated to the title holder’s position after reigning Malaya Antone was… Read More
San Xavier- One of the scariest moments a pet owner can experience is when their furry companion becomes sick or injured. Much of the time these types of incidences occur during inopportune… Read More
Sells- On Nov. 29, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents discovered a missing girl during a traffic stop near Sells. According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release, a federal agent… Read More
Sells- Members of the newly elected Tohono O’odham Youth Council met for their first meeting on Nov. 19, to select their officers for the next two years, and to prepare for their… Read More
Tucson, AZ- On Oct. 21, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents working in conjunction with the Office of Air and Marine air assets seized 3,700 pounds of marijuana worth $1.9 million in the… Read More
Topawa- Most coaches want the game they teach to be quick and fast, but often the players’ abilities don’t match up with that strategy. That is not so with this year’s version… Read More
Cababi- Anna Leon has been to several horse camps, and she says she’s learned something new and different at each one, but one thing never changes—after two days of camping she can’t… Read More
From The Runner archives: November 14, 1978, Volume 2 Number 15 Santa Rosa- Placing three runners in the first ten finishers and two more in the top 20, the Santa Rosa Boarding… Read More
Sells- After almost a year of delays and promised deadlines, Tohono O’odham who are members of the Trust Administration Class within the Cobell v. Jewell class action settlement, will soon begin to… Read More
San Xavier- The work that Anthony Sweezy does is dusty and close to the earth, and at the end of the day he craves a cleansing of not only his body, but… Read More
Sells- Two new representatives from Hia-Ced District took their seats on the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council last week, replacing two who were recalled in a district election. Patrick Andrews and Virginia Garcia… Read More
Sells- At the age of 16, Baboquivari High School senior Dayanara Sixkiller, of Sells, who has been leading the pack academically with a 4.0 Grade Point Average, has been nominated for the… Read More
Pisinemo- Tiaras and crowns seemed to dazzle many of the mostly young girls who participated in a workshop to introduce them to the role of Miss Tohono O’odham Nation, and possibly pique… Read More
Sells- San Xavier residents are now receiving their water from the City of Tucson since uranium readings are above drinking water standards in the two wells that provide water to the community.… Read More
Topawa, AZ- Volunteers from the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Executive Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and community members helped Tohono O’odham fill out U.S. Passport applications and take passport photos for the… Read More
Sells- Taking a team on the road to play in summer youth basketball tournaments can be a lot of fun for the players, but it can be grueling for the parents who… Read More
Sells- Catholic Bishop Gerald F. Kancanis, head of the Catholic Diocese of Tucson, met with officials and board members of Tohono O’odham Community Action in Sells on May 6. Nina Altshul, Executive… Read More
Santa Rosa- On April 26, Santa Rosa Day was led off by a parade, which in turn was led by former Tohono O’odham royalty from Gu Achi District. If you missed the… Read More
Topawa- Students at Baboquivari High School and Tohono O’odham High School are wrapping up the planning for their third Teen Town Hall, and they are hopeful they will get useful answers from… Read More
Sells- On the evening of March 23, the Office of Air and Marine’s Tucson Air Branch and Border Patrol (BORSTAR) located and rescued a mother and her two young children near Covered… Read More
San Xavier- These days the act of running is generally done in the spirit of competition or to improve one’s health. However, for O’odham there can be a more traditional and spiritual… Read More
Pisinemo- Over the years Pisinemo Day has become a big event through rain, sunshine, or wind. This year’s March 1, event was pummeled with rain, but that dampened spirits and most of… Read More
Phoenix, AZ- Dozens of young cheerleaders from around Arizona paced nervously just outside of the main competition hall at the Phoenix Convention Center, waiting for their turn to perform complicated cheering routines… Read More
Topawa- The director of the Mining Office for the Tohono O’odham Nation has worked through a dozen different tribal chairmen, he was around when the tribal government operated on a budget that… Read More
Tucson, AZ- From the hallways of academia on the Tohono O’odham Nation to spearheading a campaign to become Pima County’s first Native American Recorder, Gabriella Cázares-Kelly’s political aspirations have led her on… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Hundreds of law enforcement officers from Arizona and the Southwestern U.S. joined members of the Tohono O’odham Nation in a memorial service to bid farewell to Tohono O’odham Police… Read More
Pisinemo, AZ- It is probably not the most remote place on the Tohono O’odham Nation, but it is among the top three or four spots. That is where tribal and district leaders… Read More
Sells, AZ- Most communities on the Tohono O’odham Nation traditionally are welcoming places, but times have changed, at least temporarily. Since the coronavirus pandemic hit the Nation last March, communities have been… Read More
Tucson, AZ- In what can be called a breakthrough in Pima County politics, a Tohono O’odham woman has become the Democratic nominee for Pima County Recorder after winning the Aug. 4 Primary… Read More
Commentary by Stanley Throssell Last week I drove to the livestock center west of Sells to see if anyone would show up to take a test for COVID-19. Unsurprisingly there were vehicles… Read More
Sells, AZ- Tohono O’odham health officials issued a notice that several people who attended a funeral service in late June have tested positive for COVID-19, and have urged those who attended the… Read More
Sells, AZ- Gabriella Cázares-Kelly is no stranger to politics beyond the boundaries of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and this summer she is all in as she seeks the post of Pima County… Read More
Sells, AZ- In an effort to protect people who live in Sells District communities and those who work in or visit the district, the Sells District Council passed district legislation that requires… Read More
Sells, AZ- Students from Tohono O’odham Community College’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Club took their education beyond the classroom when they visited the Arizona State Legislature in March to urge state legislators… Read More
Sells, AZ- Work on a plan to make a per capita distribution of non-gaming revenue to members of the Tohono O’odham Nation is continuing after being derailed by COVID-19 that sent home… Read More
Sells, AZ- Tribal health and emergency officials told the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council that the Tohono O’odham Nation’s first death attributed to COVID-19 occurred last weekend. The report was made during an… Read More
Sells, AZ- Just as COVID-19 has started slowly in other parts of the world and U.S., then creeped forward, it is showing itself on the Tohono O’odham Nation. On March 31, Tohono… Read More
Sells, AZ- A plan that will send $1,000 to each enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation was adopted by the tribal government, but it will be awhile before members get the… Read More
Prescott Valley, AZ- Whoever said the third time is a charm has not experienced what the Baboquivari High School girls’ basketball team has the past three years. For the third straight year… Read More
Glendale, AZ- Hundreds of Tohono O’odham gathered under the cavernous entryway of Desert Diamond Casinos’ West Valley Casino to celebrate the opening of the facility on Feb. 19. The tribal members arrived… Read More
Sells, AZ- Though activities of the 82nd Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair got underway on Jan. 30, the big kick-off event is the annual parade through downtown Sells. Mild temperatures… Read More
Topawa, AZ- When you see Autumn Nelson dribble a basketball down the court, she never looks down, her head is up and her eyes are scanning her teammates and their defenders. She… Read More
Topawa, AZ- Insistent rain kept some young Tohono O’odham away from the Dec. 27 Tohono O’odham Youth Conference in Topawa because of rushing water in highway ditches, but scores of young people… Read More
Topawa, AZ- Visitors who made the trip to the Second Himdag Ki: Celebration of the Arts show and sale got to see a wide variety of work, from familiar painting and weaving… Read More
Sells, AZ- Riana Lopez says her very first memory is of her and her family traveling with their horses to compete in a rodeo. She was about four years old. Today she… Read More
Sells, AZ- Maria Pablo, Miss Tohono O’odham Nation 2019 during her year-long reign has been urging young and old alike to buckle up when they are in a vehicle. It seems an… Read More
Las Vegas, NV- A Tohono O’odham woman who was given her first horse when she was just four years old turned her riding experience into the title of 2020 Indian National Finals… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Over the past 30 years San Xavier District has selected a young woman to serve as its royalty and represent the district. On Oct. 14 the district’s Community Volunteer… Read More
Sells, AZ- The bright colors of an American flag draped the coffin wheeled into the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council Chambers by Tohono O’odham military veterans. It was the final visit to the… Read More
Ajo, AZ- For a 17-year-old he seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Andre Juan Cipriano is from Gu Vo Village, and last weekend, on Sept. 14, he… Read More
Pnoenix, AZ- When you say it out loud, people might ask you to say it again, but it is true that O’odham students are attending Tohono O’odham Community College classes in classrooms… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- For a small urban school with an almost 100 percent enrollment of Tohono O’odham students, a gift of $50,000 is like a shot of adrenaline. This month a check… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Naomi Monte sat at a round dinner table at the Tohono O’odham Education Student Recognition Ceremony cradling her one-month-old girl in her arms and surrounded by her four other… Read More
Sells, AZ- Jennifer Enriquez has been the Principal at Indian Oasis Elementary School since February, and every day at work she is greeted by construction workers. Over the months they have gutted… Read More
Sells, AZ- In front of a packed crowd in the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council Chambers in Sells, Ned Norris Jr. took his oath of office on June 14 to start his four-year… Read More
Sells, AZ- Ned Norris Jr. was returned by voters to the chairman’s post of the Tohono O’odham Nation, capturing nearly 60 percent of the votes cast in the Nation’s May 25, General… Read More
San Xavier, AZ- Elders who attended the 21st Tohono O’odham Elders Day were hard pressed to find an extra place at the table as close to 1,000 elders filled the Entertainment Center… Read More
Schuk Toak, AZ- Evelyn Young graduates from Baboquivari High School this month. She is a top student and a very good basketball player. Her dad wanted her to attend a college to… Read More
Sells, AZ- With only Gu Vo District voters participating in the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Primary Election, the voters and candidates in the other 10 districts can turn to the May 25 General… Read More
Topawa, AZ- The retirement send off for Bernard Siquieros by any measure could be called bitter-sweet. Siquieros announced his plan to retire late last year, and on March 28, friends, colleagues, and… Read More
Santa Rosa Ranch, AZ- The displaced students from Santa Rosa Ranch School will return to their village campus later this month, and they will be attending classes in new modular buildings brought… Read More
Sells, AZ- The main business loop in Sells was closed to traffic, a school waila band played festive music, and community members lined the roadside to watch a small parade recognizing the… Read More
Sells, AZ- The theme of the 81st Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair parade was Celebrating the Resiliency of the O’odham Himdag through Beauty, Health and Wellness, but it could just… Read More
Sells, AZ- The deadline for those seeking to run in the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Primary Election in April has passed, and it appears only two chairman/vice chairman teams will be vying for… Read More
Topawa, AZ- The Baboquivari High School Lady Warriors basketball team has been on a winning run the past several years, and this season the team is off to another strong season. Going… Read More
Pan Tak, AZ- Because of freezing nighttime temperatures the 2018 O’odham Camp for youth was turned from an overnight camp into a day camp that still drew over 50 young people. The… Read More
San Isidro, AZ- Tara Sweeney said she had read reports of the hazards exposed at Santa Rosa Ranch School, but when she saw photographs of the condition of the buildings, she knew… Read More
Gu Vo, AZ- Community members from Gu-Vo District gathered Nov. 17, to celebrate Gu-Vo District Day, and they were joined by visitors from other communities on the Tohono O’odham Nation. In addition… Read More
Sells, AZ- The Election Office of the Tohono O’odham Nation released the schedule for next spring’s primary and general elections for chairman and vice-chairmen of the Nation and the 11 districts and… Read More
Vamori, AZ- The annual Warrior Run half-marathon held in Chukut Kuk District draws a wide variety of runners—some fast, some slow, some young and some old. This year’s race was from San… Read More
Topawa, AZ- It was a rough two weeks for two of the three middle school football teams on the Tohono O’odham Nation. One team last week suffered injuries to at least five… Read More
Glendale, AZ- A huge I-beam was lifted into position and secured atop steel framework to mark the start of what builders call the final phase of steelwork at the Desert Diamond Casino… Read More
Topawa- For the Warriors of Baboquivari High School the football season got off to a promising start when they scored on their first play of the season. At home against the Fort… Read More
North Komelic- Ralphina Andres is just 17 years old, and in a few weeks she will be leaving her home and family in North Komelic for what she sees not only as… Read More
Santa Rosa Ranch- Scores of volunteers, many of them skilled contractors in the fields of electric, plumbing and construction, converged on Santa Rosa Ranch School last week to do a day’s work… Read More
Sells- The Tohono O’odham Nation announced in June that it planned to buy more land at Glendale to add to its property there that already is part of the Nation’s federal Indian… Read More
Santa Rosa- Though the day was sunny and the rooms hot, it did not seem to deter the approximately 280 young people gathered for the annual Tohono O’odham Youth Conference. The conference… Read More
San Xavier- Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School closed out the high school graduation season with its 20th annual commencement ceremony June 8. The graduation was held in the Diamond Center at Desert… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham who lost their lives during wartime were remembered and recognized by military veterans and community members during a May 28, Memorial Day observance in Sells. The key speakers at… Read More
San Xavier- The Tohono O’odham Nation’s Elders’ Day commemorated its 20th year with a celebration that appeared to have drawn a near record number of not only Tohono O’odham elders but elders… Read More
Sells- The walkout by teachers in many of the school districts in Arizona had only a minimal affect on schools in Baboquivari Unified School District 40. Teachers in an effort to press… Read More
Topawa- The 2018 Baboquivari High School boys’ baseball team is in unfamiliar territory. The Warriors this week clinched the Region 1A South Championship with a 12-2 record, and they are preparing for… Read More
Sells- The Secretary of the Department of the Interior spent a few hours on the Tohono O’odham Nation during his tour of the border in southern Arizona two weeks ago, and he… Read More
Pisinemo- A large crowd was greeted by an equally large number of vendors and mild weather to the 27th Annual Pisinemo District Day on March 3. The number of people at this… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham high school basketball teams fared well in state championship tournaments last week, winning one and placing second in another. The Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School boys’ team traveled to… Read More
With beautiful weather and a large variety of activities, including games, rodeo, and fair, crowds came out enmasse to the 80th O’odham Wapkial Ha-Tas celebration.Activities were varied and many with a toka… Read More
Sells- The influenza outbreak that has spread to every state in the U.S., and has become deadly, has also hit the Tohono O’odham Nation, with more cases reported than in previous flu… Read More
San Xavier- Nineteen-year-old Sarah Arvicio from South Komelic Village in Chukut Kuk District is the new Miss Tohono O’odham Nation 2018. She was selected after competing in a Jan. 14, pageant held… Read More
Sells- Susan Rodgers is thankful that three men from Sells were visiting the lava tube cave near Flagstaff, AZ at the same time she and her husband were there. Bill Rodgers suffered… Read More
Below, this young steer rider, Miles Crawford of Sacaton, was just one among many rodeo enthusiasts who turned out to compete in the Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Buck Out in Sells.The competition was… Read More
Topawa- For a high school basketball coach, every new season holds the unexpected. Seniors graduate, freshmen join the team from junior high school, and holdovers from last year don’t show up for… Read More
Sells- Veterans Day brought out colorful flags, plenty of people to show their appreciation of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s military veterans, and plenty of veterans too. Officially, Veterans Day was Nov. 11,… Read More
Sells- According national health officials the flu season generally begins in October and can stretch into April. Well the flu season has started on the Tohono O’odham Nation with public health nurses… Read More
Phoenix, AZ- Jason Wood graduated from Phoenix Indian School in 1985, and when he returned home to Santa Rosa Village on the Tohono O’odham Nation he took more than his high school… Read More
Topawa, AZ- The seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls could not tune out what has been happening on professional football fields across the country when the national anthem has been played, so… Read More
Santa Rosa- Residents of Santa Rosa Village were joined by other members of the Tohono O’odham community to enjoy the village’s annual celebration, which featured the recognition of two local women instrumental… Read More
New Fields- As if running a blazing pace to finish first in the half-marathon Warrior Run was not enough, Anthony Francisco took a gulp of water and then ran another three miles… Read More
Sells- Close to 1,700 students returned to schools on the Tohono O’odham Nation in July and August. Six hundred and eight students started classes on Aug. 3 in the Bureau of Indian… Read More
Sells- The first brick has yet to be laid for the Tohono O’odham Nation’s new Desert Diamond Casino West Valley and already there is rumbling about when the profits will be available. … Read More
Phoenix- Youth basketball teams from the Tohono O’odham Nation battled one another to get to the championship game of the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI), but the championship was finally won by… Read More
Photographs belowTopawa- Over two hundred people gathered at the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Cultural Center and Museum June 17 to celebrate the facility’s tenth year in operation. The celebration started early as ceremonial… Read More
San Xavier- Twenty-three seniors received their diplomas during a graduation ceremony for Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School on June 9. The graduating class was the 19th for the Tucson charter school that… Read More
Topawa- Thirty-nine seniors at Baboquivari High School recieved their diplomas during a May 26 graduation ceremony at the school’s athletic field. Heading the list of graduates were 2017 senior class Valedictorian Keyshawn… Read More
Sells- A lengthy court battle has ended with the Tohono O’odham Nation and State of Arizona reaching an agreement that opens up class three gaming at the tribe’s West Valley casino near… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA) closed the doors of its two businesses, the Desert Rain Cafe and Gallery, on April 28, the owner citing the high cost of maintaining space in… Read More
Tucson- Traditional dancers and entertainers from the Tohono O’odham Nation joined members from other Indian tribes in an April 8 celebration to open a permanent exhibit of traditional basketry and fiber art… Read More
Comobabi- Sells resident Mack Humeyestewa took advantage of early morning cool temperatures and breezed to an overall first place finish in the Hemajkam Half Marathon and 2-Person Relay April 1 at Comobabi… Read More
Pisinemo- Clear and sunny weather, a variety of activities and great entertainment brought people out in force for the 26th Annual Pisinemo District Day held March 4 at the recreation center in… Read More
Sells- Alex Soto, a Tohono O’odham rapper with a conscience, spent two hours last month at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Arizona Highway 86, shooting footage for a new album. He said… Read More
Topawa- Stephon Hendricks is just 13 years old and he admits to having gotten into trouble for talking back and having some anger issues. But rather than continue on that negative path,… Read More
Sells, AZ- Thousands turned out for the 79th Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair held in Sells, AZ from Jan. 28 – 29. The annual parade was led by grand marshal… Read More
Topawa- Over the past two decades Joseph T. Joaquin has become recognized as a leader and expert in the laws and methods of repatriation of Native American funerary items, and last week… Read More
Sells- Final preparations are getting underway for the Tohono O’odham Nation’s 79th Annual O’odham Wapkial Ha-Tas, which will be held Jan. 27-29 in Sells. Among the featured events are an All-Indian junior… Read More
Sells- A year ago Jaylene Wood was preparing to compete in the Miss Tohono O’odham Nation pageant, probably not thinking of the many places she would visit and the many people she… Read More
Tucson- Terrol Dew Johnson has in the past taken traditional basket weaving materials and woven them into non-traditional shapes and configurations, but this time he has outdone himself. Johnson’s latest works are… Read More
Sells- A Veterans Day parade got underway bright and early on Nov. 11 in Sells to kick off activities attended by Tohono O’odham veterans and community members to recognize and celebrate members… Read More
San Xavier- Hundreds of people gathered at the annual Wa:k Ceksan Tas to celebrate O’odham basket weavers, and one of San Xavier’s expert basket makers was honored during the parade. Esther Jaimes… Read More
Sells- An effort to remove the chairman and vice chairman of Gu Vo District through a removal process that places the responsibility on the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council failed when the council… Read More
Santa Rosa- When Kellum Whitman took his grandmother to his sixth-grade class at Santa Rosa Day School to celebrate grandparents’ day, he found out a few things about her he didn’t previously… Read More
Sells- A threatened court fight over interpretation of the Tohono O’odham Constitution as it applies to the tribal government’s Executive and Legislative branches started last week with somewhat of a fizzle. The… Read More
Sells- The former chairwoman of the now defunct Hia-Ced District who was charged with fraud and abuse of office for actions she took while in office was acquitted of all charges in… Read More
Sells- The third Wednesday of each month Bernadette Salcido gets out of bed at her Tucson home about 3 a.m. and rousts her daughters and grandchildren out of bed too so they… Read More
Tucson- When he was not yet a teenager Albert Alvarez started hitting a punching bag at his home in Sells, not knowing that those first few swings would eventually lead to his… Read More
Pasqua Yaqui- The members of the Sells Angels youth baseball team stretched and tossed baseballs around as they prepared to play yet another game, this one on the road at the sprawling… Read More
By Stanley ThrossellSells- Every year during the Memorial Day observance in Sells, the names of the Tohono O’odham who were killed or died during wartime are read aloud, and family members stand… Read More
Sells- For members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who use the Indian Health Service facilities for their medical care, the difference between June 30, the day before the tribe takes over IHS… Read More
Sells- Organizers of the effort to recall Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Edward D. Manuel and Vice Chairman Verlon Jose are gathering signatures and say they are confident they can collect the almost… Read More
Sells- The Tohono O’odham Nation in just over two short months will take ownership of the health delivery system that the Indian Health Service now has in place on the reservation, but… Read More
San Xavier- Gertie Lopez had only a day to pull together several O’odham musicians and singers to welcome an award-winning choir from Ireland, but her effort paid off as a music fest… Read More
By Martha S. LeeSells- Growing up in Sells was difficult for Calvert Wichapa, but he was always interested in listening to his father’s friends’ stories about wildland firefighting. In his late teens… Read More
Sells- The family of the late Henry Harvey gathered at the Tohono O’odham Veterans Affairs Office in Sells for a ceremony that to them was bitter-sweet. His children and his spouse were… Read More
Sells- The recently selected royalty court of the Tohono O’odham Nation was officially introduced to the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council on Jan. 11, and the three young women will now hit the… Read More
Lucy K. Lopez is the Parade Grand Marshal for the 78th Annual O’odham Wapkial Ha-Tas.For the past 49 years she has been a mainstay at the Papago Cafe in Sells, greeting and… Read More
Sells- After years of being an eyesore with stacks of concrete blocks, piles of broken blocks and discarded wreaths, Veterans’ Memorial Park in downtown Sells is showing signs of progress with the… Read More
Sells- Based on testimony from community members and police reports that some members of an extended family living in Sells have allegedly been involved in a reign of lawlessness ranging from burglaries… Read More
Sells- When Oriana Lopez was four years old she wanted a piano for Christmas. She got a horse. She said she never asked for a horse, but when she was presented one… Read More
San Xavier- Gertrude Lopez has a motor. Not the kind that runs a vehicle or machine, but the type that gives Lopez the energy and enthusiasm to work a full-time job, lead… Read More
Sells- The weather has cooled and people are beginning to put up their Christmas decorations, which means the new year is quickly approaching and with it the 2016 Miss Tohono O’odham Nation… Read More
San Xavier- The Mission San Xavier del Bac, founded by Padre Eusebio Kino in 1692 and known to be the oldest example of European architecture in Arizona was named on the World… Read More
Sells- Regular commuters to the Tohono O’odham Nation have probably seen it hundreds of times without taking notice, driving past it on a daily basis, not knowing that just a few feet… Read More
Schuk Toak- Stephen Williams from Fresnal Village crouched over the tailgate of his truck in the parking lot of Tohono O’odham Community College’s Main Campus. He was preparing the traditional materials he… Read More
A remembrance of the Saint Francis feast, and the pilgrimage to Magdalena for the celebrationTohono O’odham educator and spiritual leader the late Danny Lopez of Big Field Village in 1998 wrote this… Read More
San Simon- Ninety students at the Bureau of Indian Education’s San Simon School participated in a summer reading program, and they’re finding the benefits are two-fold. Not only are they better prepared… Read More
Sells- Tohono O’odham Community College will receive a grant totaling $5 million over the next five years that will help the school retain enrolled students and transition high school students into college,… Read More
San Xavier– As a walker or bicyclist commuting to work and having to contend with traffic across the vehicle bridge that crosses the Santa Cruz River in San Xavier District is not… Read More
Sells- As construction at the site of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s West Valley Resort ramps up toward a planned opening late this year, the fight between the tribe and the State of… Read More
From The Runner archives: Papago Runner, March 30, 1979, Volume 3 Number 5 “There are 200 helpless children who are in those buildings. They won’t have a chance if anything goes wrong.”… Read More
Sells- A good education is the glue that holds nations and societies together. Through education we preserve our traditions, enrich our culture, and foster a progressive society, which is why Baboquivari Unified… Read More
San Xavier- Lacey A. Humeyestewa and Valentina Pintor headed the 2015 graduating class of Ha:san Leadership and Preparatory School during a commencement ceremony June 12 in the Diamond Center at Desert Diamond… Read More
Schuk Toak- Three teenagers who attended high schools hundreds of miles apart signed letters of intent to attend and play basketball at Tohono O’odham Community College. They signed the letters in a… Read More
Topawa- Several years ago when the U.S. Postal Service was cutting back its post offices and service centers, the small outpost at Topawa was on the chopping block, but it survived and… Read More
Sells- On Apr. 25, during the Tohono O’odham Nation’s 2015 Primary Election an initiative to dissolve the Hia-Ced District passed by a vote of 1,346 to 1,209. When the initiative goes into effect, Hia-Ced… Read More
Sells- For those who cannot wait to hear about the April 25 Tohono O’odham Nation Primary Election results, you can take a seat at election central, which will be located in the… Read More
Sells- This is the political season and elected posts are up for a vote, from district council seats to district chairman posts to the Nation’s chairman, and half the seats on the… Read More
North Komelik- For two decades O’odham have come together to be part of the Unity Run, a relay style run that courses through the four O’odham sister tribe’s lands. The run unifies… Read More
Glendale, AZ- Construction at the Tohono O’odham Nation’s West Valley Resort site is reaching a stage where a metal skeleton can be seen by passersby as work progresses on the $400 million… Read More
2015 Four-Person Co-ed Relay1st Place winners Team BoogeeJessica Soto, Damian Deporto, Antonio Flores, Luis Huerta. 2nd Place WinnersLeg A-LiciousNatasha Hill, Bobby Wilson, Ace Charette, Lydia Jennings. 3rd Place WinnersTeam TaylorTiffany Shilow, Wayne… Read More
Comobabi- First time runners and veteran participants of the annual HOPP Half Marathon and Marathon called the course from Sells to Nolic to Comobabi challenging. Trent Taylor, 33, from Ganado and Second… Read More
San Simon- Joselyn Garcia, Sadie Belton, and Kristen Sam are the only seniors on the Tohono O’odham High School girls’ basketball team that is off to a great start, but before the… Read More
Sells- Courtney Green, who almost a year ago was the second runner up in the Miss Tohono O’odham Nation pageant, was elevated to the title holder’s position after reigning Malaya Antone was… Read More
San Xavier- One of the scariest moments a pet owner can experience is when their furry companion becomes sick or injured. Much of the time these types of incidences occur during inopportune… Read More
Sells- On Nov. 29, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents discovered a missing girl during a traffic stop near Sells. According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release, a federal agent… Read More
Sells- Members of the newly elected Tohono O’odham Youth Council met for their first meeting on Nov. 19, to select their officers for the next two years, and to prepare for their… Read More
Tucson, AZ- On Oct. 21, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents working in conjunction with the Office of Air and Marine air assets seized 3,700 pounds of marijuana worth $1.9 million in the… Read More
Topawa- Most coaches want the game they teach to be quick and fast, but often the players’ abilities don’t match up with that strategy. That is not so with this year’s version… Read More
Cababi- Anna Leon has been to several horse camps, and she says she’s learned something new and different at each one, but one thing never changes—after two days of camping she can’t… Read More
From The Runner archives: November 14, 1978, Volume 2 Number 15 Santa Rosa- Placing three runners in the first ten finishers and two more in the top 20, the Santa Rosa Boarding… Read More
Sells- After almost a year of delays and promised deadlines, Tohono O’odham who are members of the Trust Administration Class within the Cobell v. Jewell class action settlement, will soon begin to… Read More
San Xavier- The work that Anthony Sweezy does is dusty and close to the earth, and at the end of the day he craves a cleansing of not only his body, but… Read More
Sells- Two new representatives from Hia-Ced District took their seats on the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council last week, replacing two who were recalled in a district election. Patrick Andrews and Virginia Garcia… Read More
Sells- At the age of 16, Baboquivari High School senior Dayanara Sixkiller, of Sells, who has been leading the pack academically with a 4.0 Grade Point Average, has been nominated for the… Read More
Pisinemo- Tiaras and crowns seemed to dazzle many of the mostly young girls who participated in a workshop to introduce them to the role of Miss Tohono O’odham Nation, and possibly pique… Read More
Sells- San Xavier residents are now receiving their water from the City of Tucson since uranium readings are above drinking water standards in the two wells that provide water to the community.… Read More
Topawa, AZ- Volunteers from the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Executive Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and community members helped Tohono O’odham fill out U.S. Passport applications and take passport photos for the… Read More
Sells- Taking a team on the road to play in summer youth basketball tournaments can be a lot of fun for the players, but it can be grueling for the parents who… Read More
Sells- Catholic Bishop Gerald F. Kancanis, head of the Catholic Diocese of Tucson, met with officials and board members of Tohono O’odham Community Action in Sells on May 6. Nina Altshul, Executive… Read More
Santa Rosa- On April 26, Santa Rosa Day was led off by a parade, which in turn was led by former Tohono O’odham royalty from Gu Achi District. If you missed the… Read More
Topawa- Students at Baboquivari High School and Tohono O’odham High School are wrapping up the planning for their third Teen Town Hall, and they are hopeful they will get useful answers from… Read More
Sells- On the evening of March 23, the Office of Air and Marine’s Tucson Air Branch and Border Patrol (BORSTAR) located and rescued a mother and her two young children near Covered… Read More
San Xavier- These days the act of running is generally done in the spirit of competition or to improve one’s health. However, for O’odham there can be a more traditional and spiritual… Read More
Pisinemo- Over the years Pisinemo Day has become a big event through rain, sunshine, or wind. This year’s March 1, event was pummeled with rain, but that dampened spirits and most of… Read More
Phoenix, AZ- Dozens of young cheerleaders from around Arizona paced nervously just outside of the main competition hall at the Phoenix Convention Center, waiting for their turn to perform complicated cheering routines… Read More
Topawa- The director of the Mining Office for the Tohono O’odham Nation has worked through a dozen different tribal chairmen, he was around when the tribal government operated on a budget that… Read More
Sells, AZ- Every school day Dwayne Valenzuela, 10, leaves his home about 7:30 a.m. on the east side of Sells and walks to Tohono Plaza just so he can get a good… Read More
Sells, AZ- More than 24,000 letters were mailed to members of the Tohono O’odham Nation containing verification forms that need to be filled out by individuals and returned to the tribe in… Read More
Sells, AZ- As Baboquivari Unified School District’s teachers and students continue to meet in virtual classrooms, they are facing new and unique educational challenges that their peers and colleagues have never faced… Read More
Phoenix, AZ- After being one of the communities hardest hit worldwide by COVID-19, Navajo Nation tribal leaders say volunteers from throughout their reservation will participate in vaccine trials. In a press release… Read More
Phoenix, AZ- In a cautionary move to lower the risk of straining hospitals during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Department of Health is urging community members to get a flu vaccination. … Read More