Carvers in Cactus: An Interview with Franco Family Descendants

To  prepare this online exhibit, on April 2, 2025, author Diane Dittemore met with five Franco family descendants: Ignacio (Nacho) J. Franko, Sr., whose father Patrick was Chepa and Domingo’s son; Thelma Havier and Valerie Franco, daughters of Thomas, another son of Chepa and Domingo; Jarvis Juan, whose mother Flora was Chepa and Domingo’s daughter; and  Geena Ramon, a great granddaughter of Chepa and Domingo through their daughter Nancy.[i] The meeting was held at the San Xavier District office, in a conference room Thelma had arranged for us to use.

The initial contact with the family  had been arranged with the assistance of colleague Dr. Reuben Naranjo, who is a relative of the Francos through his grandfather. On Saturday, January 25^th, 2025, we visited the two Franco fry bread stands at Mission San Xavier, introduced ourselves, and obtained contact information that would allow for a follow up visit.

At the arranged meeting with the family, Dittemore asked if any had any recollections to share of Chepa, Domingo, or Thomas. Several offered their remembrances and other thoughts.

Valerie: I remember watching my father Thomas making his dolls. I remember the sounds of him at work, chopping and carving the cactus figures.  He told me that the people he represented had real roles in O’odham society. For example, Thomas carved warriors carrying a rattle and shield. The shield as a warrior, the rattle as a medicine man.  This warrior image really helped me at one low point in my life.

Ignacio (Nacho): I was born in Chuichu [in the northern part of the Nation]. My family moved to Phoenix for my dad’s work, but we returned to Tucson to help Chepa once she needed a wheelchair to get around. My mom was Chepa’s main care giver. I helped my grandmother Chepa with chores like cutting wood and pushing her in her wheelchair where she needed to go, like in the kitchen to eat. She taught me to speak  more of the O’odham language. I knew some O’odham, but had an accent from Chuichu that kids teased me about. I remember watching soap operas with my grandmother. General Hospital and One Life to Life were her favorites. 

Geena: Asked what Chepa and Domingo’s carvings mean to her, “It makes me proud. I like to imagine how Chepa enjoyed making her dolls, how it must have made her feel good.  For me, I like to draw, and when I get done it feels very good.” 

Jarvis: In response to the question whether there were others in the family beyond Chepa, Domingo and Thomas who were cactus artisans, “Thomas’s son Dimitri also used to carve. I have made pieces where I sculpt faces into the bases of dried saguaro sections. I also like to draw, but at this point am too busy with my job to make art.” Jarvis works in construction, and has been on crews that have performed repairs on San Xavier Mission.