OK.
This next piece is inspired by the very creature that we
as farmers, we cannot escape.
As O'odham, we will never escape.
And as humanity, we will always be blessed by their abundance.
And that is the toton.
And if those of you unfamiliar with the O'odham, it's an ant.
All right.
[CHUCKLES]
I call this Totoñ Huḍñig Taccui, Ant Evening Dream.
And it's one of the photos featured with the ants keeping
us company throughout the day.
Day travelers, taṣ 'oij hihimdam, workers of day,
evening, and travelers of night.
Cicpkandam taṣ 'oij, huḍñig kc hihimdam cuhug oij.
From beneath the land to the surface of space beyond the Sun,
Am jeweḍ weco 'amjeḍ kc 'inhu jeweḍ da:m kc
we:sko 'imhu 'i-ba'ic g taṣ.
Each step, each step, each step, each step taken for a purpose.
We:s 'e-kiaṣpa 'am ha'icu we:hejiḍ 'am hab 'e-juñhim.
Always connecting to the sky and the land and all beneath.
Cem hekid 'ab 'i-ku'inog g da:m ka:cim we:m, kc
jeweḍ kc we:s ha'icu mo 'am hab cu'ig weco.
Clouds and land.
Cewagĭ kc jeweḍ.
Travelers of the day.
Taṣ hihimdam.
Workers beneath the sky.
Da:m ka:cim weco cicpkandam.
And ancestors keep our dreams alive.
Totoñ hekĭhukam 'o 'am ñeid mat 'am 'apṣ o 'i-himad g t-taccui.
It brings these emotions up.
One of my mentors who was not here, I'll see him tomorrow.
[CHUCKLES]
He really has inspired me.
And he tells me, farmers don't take vacations.
And that's how this was inspired,
the discipline, the lecturers and then also my mentors.
Redirecting me and reminding me of the things I need to connect
and what I'm living for.
And we connect so much in our stories to the toton.
We have songs and there's a beautiful song--
there's so many beautiful songs.
And unfortunately, I'm not here to share songs or fortunately.
[CHUCKLES]