This was a difficult assignment in the sense that it is hard to decide what is fair for this tribe. I believe what would be fair is for them to get back all the land that was their’s to begin with. I don’t think that they had records and paper ownership of those lands back then, so it makes it difficult to know exactly what should be their’s.

The Tohono O’Odham are fighting for their rights as a tribe and standing their ground. In one of the articles it stated that they do not accept federal authority and openly reject the idea that the state of Arizona has any right to make decisions for their tribe. I feel they have a right to be angry and to push for what is rightfully theirs, but I’m sure this makes it more difficult from a state and federal standpoint to work with. In the prior appropriation doctrine it states that “water rights are given to whoever first puts water to beneficial use”. I believe based on this doctrine it would be Native Americans who lived and farmed the land first who deserve the water rights.

In the water rights agreement they were awarded 37,000 acres of water annually from the Central Arizona Project. That seems like a lot of water! I feel that this agreement is about compromise and trying to meet in the middle. I think the government wants to work with tribes and are trying to make it fair. I don’t know that the Native Americans will ever feel that we can fully restore what was taken from them originally. But I do believe that most tribes and government (whether its local or federal) are doing their best to work together.

The Tohono O’odham people resided in the desert region of Southern Arizona and Northern parts of Mexico for years and years. They are also known as the desert people, which is what Tohono O’odham means. The desert people were peaceful and kept with their traditions and beliefs and where not trying to start conflict by any means. Although things went a little south in 1853, this event is known as the Gadsen Purchase. This changed the borderlines, which basically split the Tohono people up. Meanwhile the Apache warriors were stealing the natives to use as slaves where they resided in Mexico.

 

Now to answer the question whether or not I think they were adequately compensated for their loses? In a way I could see why you can argue that they were compensated for their loses. Although they did get an education and degrees from the University of Arizona, they also volunteered for the military service during World War II. That to me isn’t compensation for their losses that is rewarding them for their service in World War II.To go with that the Tohono O’odham nation was granted much of the ground in the Santa Cruz River Valley. This was known as the Winters Doctrine. During this time where this forgotten doctrine was being ignored the Tohono O’odham could not compete with Tucson because Tucson was purchasing land to secure the water rights. As this kept happening the Tohono O’odham people started to lose out on their water, which resulted in their farmers going out of business.

 

On the other hand the Tohono O’odham people were able to establish the Papago Tribe of Arizona. On top of that they were able to govern them selves electing a legislative council with representatives and all. This is the part of me where I can understand they were compensated to an extent. They were doing their own thing on their reservation and not causing any trouble to the outside governments in Arizona.

 

All in all in the big picture, I think they should have been compensated a little more than what they got. Yes, they did attend churches and got degrees at universities. They were able to establish the Papago Tribe and have their own reservation. But I do not think that is efficient enough for their losses. We do live in a world where life can sometimes not be fair. When their farmers are going out of business because a doctrine was being ignored and Tucson was purchasing land and taking the water. If that were to happen to anyone of us now I can assure you that you wouldn’t feel like you were compensated enough. At least in my eyes I would feel that way. Even though they settled this altercation it still was wrong that the doctrine was ignored. Legally, I think the government should have helped to protect them during this time. Instead they came in to help a little bit after the Gadsen Purchase happened and the results were already set. Yes, the Tohono O’odham people are well off now with their way of life. I do think they should have been compensated more for their losses overall.

The Tohono O’odham (Desert people) are indians that mainly lived in the Sonoran Desert. In ancient times they were called Papago. The problem between them and the United States began in 1853 when the Gadsen Purchase took place. The purchase created a border between Mexico and the United States, cutting through the middle of the Tohonos main land. This cause much conflict and forced many native Tohonos to live on the Mexico side or the US side. In 1850 the Apache warriors began killing Natives and seeling their children as slaves in Mexico. To help, the United States set aside a reserve only for the Tohono O’odham native indians. They now have the second largest Native Indian reserve in the US. Throughout the years the indians have developed their own government and started having jobs and going to college.

Do I think they were compensated for their loses, yes. They receive education benefits and equality, and their own land reserved in the US. They still hurt form their loses because they believe that the border ruins wildlife habitat and makes it hard for them to see their families in Mexico. If it were anyone, if ones beliefs and way of life were damaged or had to be rearranged, anyone would be hurt but when it comes down to it, life can sometimes just not be fair, you just have to deal with it. With all the new developments and economical issues arising, different guidelines and ways of living are going to be made to keep peace and help keep citizens safe.