In Oβodham the word for goat is siwat and ce:kol is squirrel. The word for brain is βuag. Wanna know the Oβodham word for pencil? Itβs la:bis.
And huβul is the Oβodham word for maternal grandmother, as in a new childrenβs picture book called βA Day With Huβul,β written and illustrated by JosΓ© βHusiβ CΓ‘zares and Kerrie Ann CΓ‘zares.
The book is one of two new publications created and published by the couple β the other is βMy Oβodham Coloring Bookβ β aimed at Oβodham youth to encourage them to learn and maintain their language and himdag, the Oβodham way of life and tradition. The books, including their previous publications, are one of a kind.
βThereβs no template for this kind of stuff,β said JosΓ©. To which Kerrie Ann added, βSo weβre doing it our way.β
Their way began 10 years ago when the couple created their first coloring book, βT-Oβodham A-B-C Oβohana.β It grew out of necessity, they said. Sadly, language arts resources for Oβodham children is lacking.
The coloring book was a personal project for the CΓ‘zares. When they sold out the initial run of 500 copies, the couple realized there was a need and a demand among the 14 schools in and around the Tohono Oβodham Nation, which is about the size of Connecticut.
There are seven reservations in central and southern Arizona, including villages in northern Mexico. The largest is the Tohono Oβodham reservation, west of Tucson.
A second run of the βT-Oβodham A-B-C Oβohanaβ coloring book came out in 2011, followed by another coloring book, βOβodham MamasdagΔ Oβohanaβ in 2012 and their first hardback story book, βLessons From Huβul Ke:liβ in the same year.
With the publication of each book and increased number of printed copies β they printed 5,000 of their most recent book β the CΓ‘zares said their confidence grew, as did their determination to bring fresh ideas and images to Oβodham children.
βAll of the schools jumped on it,β they said. The story and coloring books are also in Pima Countyβs public library system.
βMy Oβodham Coloring Book,β lists the 24 letters in the Oβodham alphabet, a pronunciation guide and names of colors. For each letter there are three images and the Oβodham words for each. In the story book β based on JosΓ©βs Huβul, Catherine Josemaria, who passed away in March 2006 at the age of 87 β Oβodham words and the their corresponding English words are highlighted.
The story celebrates Oβodham culture as the young girl and her Huβul engage in several traditional activities: gathering bahidag (saguaro cactus fruit) and ciolim (cholla buds), making cecemit (tortillas), cooking mu:Γ± (pinto beans) or playing on the toka field, a game similar to field hockey.
βIt is a game that comes from our people, and it belongs to us, the Oβodham women. Only women play this game. Not even your Grandfather and the other men can play it,β Huβul says.
The CΓ‘zares, who live in northwest Tucson, bring their own perspectives to their work.
JosΓ© grew up in the Tohono Oβodham village of Pisin MoΚΌo, about 45 minutes west of Sells, the Nationβs capital. It was a traditional upbringing among sisters and other family members.
After high school he attended Pima Community College and the University of Arizona where he earned an undergraduate degree in speech pathology. He also completed two masterβs degrees in Communication Sciences & Disorders from Saint Xavier University in Chicago and in American Indian Studies at the UA where he met Kerrie Ann, who is originally from the Chicago area.
She earned a bachelorβs degree in sociology at Xavier and has delved into learning OβOdham language and culture.
In addition to working as a speech pathologist, JosΓ© teaches Oβodham culture for the Tohono Oβodham Community College.
They have seven children, and both are illustrators, work in graphic arts and web design. They also work as consultants.
To help expand their reach, the CΓ‘zares have a Facebook page, Oβodham Stuff, where they post an Oβodham word for the day, and a website hoodhamstuff.com, which carries additional information on Oβodham culture.
The CΓ‘zares are doing this out of love for the Oβodham culture and dedication to maintaining it. Theyβre not in it for the money. Itβs pro bono work.
βOur compensation is that weβre treated as elders and with respect,β says Jose.
