Tohono O’odham wall foes lobby McCain
TUCSON - Tohono O’odham Nation tribal members took their fight against President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall to one of the president’s most high-profile Republican critics, lining up Thursday outside the Tucson office of Arizona Sen. John McCain.
The protest drew about 100 people carrying signs decrying plans for the wall and pleading for the respect of the Tohono O’odham Nation, which straddles the U.S.-Mexico border. The march was organized by a group calling itself Indivisible Tohono, which includes both tribal members and supporters.
They called on McCain, R-Ariz., to make a statement formally opposing Trump’s proposed border wall. They also asked the senator to introduce legislation that would prevent any federal waivers that would allow construction to start without complete environmental-impact studies.
Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, an Indivisible Tohono group member, said a few delegates met with a McCain staffer during the protest to discuss tribal members’ concerns. She said they were disappointed with the meeting because the staffer seemed to lack an understanding of Native American issues, but they were promised a future hourlong meeting to discuss the issue in more depth.
Officials with McCain’s office did not immediately respond to a request for the senator’s comment.
The proposed wall would cut through the Tohono O’odham reservation south of Tucson, further cutting off tribal members who live on either side of the international border. Protesters said they feared the effects of a wall on the tribe.
Hon’mana Seukteoma, a Tohono O’odham tribal member, said she wanted to stand in solidarity and help deliver a message in a peaceful manner.
“The Tohono O’odham nation is my homeland,” she said. “I can never imagine a wall splitting my land in half.”
Thomasa Rivas carried a sign in English and the language of the Tohono O’odham people. She said she didn’t “want to think about what this wall will do to our elders and our children’s children.”
Before the protest, Alex Soto said he and other members of the tribe would prefer not to spend their time protesting, “but we will do what we have to do.”
“This is Tohono O’odham land, and we’ve never been fully consulted on any policy,” Soto said. “This is our home, our way of life is here, our stories and songs are here. When people like Trump or any outside government takes actions that affect us, we have to act.”
April Ignacio, of the Tohono O’odham Nation, said the proposed wall would violate tribal sovereignty and other rights. She said they organized the protest so that their voices will be heard.
Ignacio said tribal members will continue to organize against the border wall until elected leaders listen and act on their concerns.
“We’re tired of being the good little Indian — we are tired of being ignored,” she said. “We are voters, we are taxpayers. We will hold Sen. McCain accountable because he represents 33,000 members.”