The summer sun sets as the gourd rattles filled the air. 

The Young River People’s Council held an O’odham New Year Celebration at the end of Ju:kiabig Maṣad, July. The celebration included food, a saguaro fruit demonstration, O’odham socials, bird singing and dancing and a waila.

Council Supervisor Janyse Salinas shared how important this event was for the YRPC. “Of course, as the youth council, they’re very interested in learning more about their culture, who they are, and where they come from,” Salinas said.  “So, they wanted to host this event to kind of help bridge the gap that a lot of Community members that have that disconnect to their culture, and so this was one of their efforts to try and bring them in and help.” 

YRPC President Jizelle Juan expressed her thanks to everyone who came out to support and celebrate. Members of the YRPC also spoke and shared their gratitude with the attendees. Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Royalty were in attendance, including Miss Salt River Emma Scabby Jr. and Miss Salt River Tiare Begay-Smith, sharing their excitement during their introduction as they are YRPC members.

YRPC member and O’odham and Piipaash Language and History Technician Aarick Mack shared Bird songs and information on the haṣañ baidaj, the saguaro fruit, along with the significance of the O’odham New Year. 

“The O’odham New Year it signifies our cycle of a new beginning, a new planting season as they would call it. This is when the saguaro fruit starts to ripen and the Ju:kiabig Maṣad which is the Rainy Month, and this is when the monsoons come and the rain come,” Mack said. 

Traditionally, the O’odham New Year takes place during the summer solstice at the end of Ha:ṣañ Bahidag Maṣad (the Saguaro Fruit Month), in June. The YRPC event was held on the evening of Ju:kiabig Maṣad 26 at Friendship Park. “We’re a little late, but it’s really important that we’re doing this again to bring back the significance of being in the Community and being with one another,” said Mack.

“On first we had the bird the Piipaash side representation,” said Mack. He said it is “important to show both tribes here and we have the O’odham singing going on.” The YRPC felt it was essential to incorporate O’odham singing and dancing, as there are ceremonial songs that go with haṣañ baidaj. Salinas said this is “their effort to bring back and acknowledge this time of year just like back when our ancestors celebrated this time of year, and the rains and the harvesting of the baidaj.”

The night ended with a walia by Molina Music. “The waila is really big in our culture right now,” said Mack. He sees it as a form of resistance, “We took something and adapted it for ourselves.” Molina Music had everyone on their feet dancing and smiling ear to ear throughout. YRPC hosted an astonishing event, and they look forward to next year’s.