Peoples of a Sonoran Desert Oasis Volume 6: Recovering the Lost History and Culture of Quitobaquito

In the southwestern corner of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Quitobaquito is the second-largest oasis in the Sonoran Desert. It has remnants of Oodham communities and their predecessors, dating back 12,000 years. Jared Orsi's book Peoples of a Sonoran Desert Oasis explores how people have used the land for five hundred generations, subject to subsistence, commerce, tradition, and progress. It reveals how colonial legacies became embedded in national parks and points to the possibility of undoing them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 17 October 2023
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press

Nestled in the southwestern corner of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, on the border between Arizona and Mexico, lies Quitobaquito, the second-largest oasis in the Sonoran Desert. However, to uncover the remnants of once-thriving Oodham communities and their predecessors, dating back at least 12,000 years, requires some effort. Along with evidence of their expulsion, the erasure of their past, attempts to recover that history, and the role of the National Park Service (NPS) at every layer, one can delve into the rich tapestry of this unique place.

Peoples of a Sonoran Desert Oasis, by Jared Orsi, delves into the story of Quitobaquito, its inhabitants ancient and recent, and the NPS's efforts to reclaim the land's pristine natural form and reverse the damage done to the Oodham community and culture. Quitobaquito is ecologically and culturally rich, and this book brings together the natural and human history of this unique place to describe how people have utilized the land for over five hundred generations. It explores the interplay between subsistence, commerce, tradition, progress, cultural preservation, and biological preservation, highlighting the ways in which people have adapted to the ever-changing landscape.

Orsi details the processes by which the NPS obliterated cultural landscapes, and subsequently, as America began to reckon with its colonial legacy, worked with Oodham peoples to restore their rightful heritage. By tracing the building and erasing of past landscapes to make some of them more visible in the present, Peoples of a Sonoran Desert Oasis reveals how colonial legacies became embedded in national parks. It also points to the possibility that such legacies can be undone, allowing for the restoration of lost landscapes and the recognition of the diverse histories and cultures that have shaped the American landscape.

In conclusion, Peoples of a Sonoran Desert Oasis offers a captivating exploration of Quitobaquito and its rich history. Through Orsi's storytelling, one gains a deeper understanding of the land, its inhabitants, and the NPS's efforts to preserve and restore this unique oasis. The book sheds light on the complex interplay between culture, history, and the natural world, and highlights the importance of recognizing and honoring the diverse legacies that have shaped our nation's parks.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780806192956