Traditional Foodways & Harvesting

A member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Tanisha was taught traditional saguaro fruit harvesting by her mother, Stella Tucker — a practice central to O’odham life for hundreds of years. The fruit is harvested each June and July and processed into syrup, jam, and ceremonial wine used in the rain ceremonies that follow. Through AAW, Tanisha worked to restore and share these foodways: developing native recipes, hosting community tastings, and partnering with the Tohono O’odham Young Voices Podcast to reach new audiences. Public workshops during the saguaro harvesting season brought together community members to learn and participate in a tradition that connects people to land, season, and identity.