The Saguaro Cactus and Its Sacred Role in O’odham Culture

Explore the vital role of the saguaro cactus in the life, culture and spiritual traditions of the O’odham people of southern Arizona.

Far more than a desert plant, the saguaro has long been a source of nourishment, providing fruit used for food, drink and ceremony. Seasonal harvests marked the O’odham calendar and brought families and communities together, reinforcing shared responsibility and respect for the land.

The saguaro is also regarded as a living relative, carrying spiritual meaning and ancestral knowledge. As Assistant Curator at the Huhugam Heritage Center, Leland Thomas, explains, stories and teachings passed down through generations emphasize balance, gratitude and stewardship, reminding the O’odham of their connection to the desert environment. Tools, materials and traditions tied to the cactus demonstrate deep ecological knowledge developed over centuries.

Each Friday we’ll be sharing a peek into the past that shows what life was like here, in what’s now Arizona, at the time of the American Revolution ahead of the semiquincentennial or 250th anniversary of the United States.

Stay tuned to learn more about “What Happened in AZ?” each week.

_{^{Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting}}.