This exhibit is part of the exhibit series, They Don’t Love You Like I Love You: Indigenous Perspectives on Sovereignty, developed out of community curator group discussions with representation from all five Native Nations about community and the idea of sovereignty. Each curator agreed that there is no better authority on how to care for the people, homelands, culture and language than their own. The idea of sovereignty coming from within, and in the face of outside forces/decisions, was an underlaying theme in each exhibit. At the opening reception at Himdag Ki:, community curator April Ignacio (Tohono O’odham) addressed the crowd, “This exhibit is a love letter to you, our hajun (family/relatives).” This sentiment was shared at each of the exhibit openings.
Watch the exhibit series introductory video Enter the Exhibit
Hia-Ced Hemajkam’s exhibit, Invisible NO MORE!, is in response to the fight for federal recognition. In the early 1900s the Hia-Ced O’odham were overlooked as a dying community and denied access to federal recognition, land trust, and other protections and support. Their community has been fighting for federal recognition for over four decades. This exhibit details the process they are taking to achieve federal recognition, and how this decision will support their cultural reparations and future as a distinct tribe.
Community Curators:
Hia-Ced Hemajkam, LLC:
Christina Andrews, Patrick Andrews, Delfina Cameron, Desery Celaya, Virgina Garcia, Janice Howe, Karen Howe, David Martinez, Lourdes Pereira, Sherry Serventi, Orlando Trevino
Arizona State Museum exhibit team:
Jennifer Juan (Tohono O’odham), Lead Curator/Assistant Director of Community Engagemen
Lisa Falk, Project Manager/Head of Community Engagement
Ruben Urrea Moreno, Preparator
Andie Zelnio, Exhibit Designer
Patrick Lyons, Director
Diane Dittemore, Ethnological Collections Associate Curator
Max Mijn, Photographer
Gina Watkinson, Conservation Lab Manager
Jannelle Weakly, Photographic Collections Manager
View Other Exhibits in this Series:
Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections | Our Song Is Our Strength
