Tanisha Tucker Lohse
BORDERLANDS REGION, 2022 - 2023
Tanisha Tucker Lohse (she/her) is a member of the Tohono O’odham nation. She was taught traditional saguaro fruit harvesting at an early age by her mother, Stella Tucker. This harvest is done every year during the summer months of June and July in Tucson, Arizona and surrounding areas. The saguaro fruit is harvested and processed into syrup, jam, and wine. The wine is used during the rain ceremonies which happen after the saguaro harvest is over. This tradition has been a part of Tohono O’odham culture for hundreds of years.
Guided by the teachings of her mother, Tanisha is working to preserve traditional harvesting practices and restore native food ways. She is developing recipes with native foods, discussing history, and hosting community tastings and classes in partnership with Tohono O'Odham Young Voices podcast. Their first monthly podcast episode highlights the work they hope to accomplish over the term, including plans for public workshops during the annual saguaro harvesting season that runs from May through June.
CULTURE HUB
Southwest Folklife Alliance’s mission is to build more equitable and vibrant communities by celebrating the everyday expressions of culture, heritage, and diversity rooted in the greater Southwest and U.S.-Mexico Border Corridor. Nationally, we amplify models and methods of cultural work that center traditional knowledge. We are a non-profit affiliate of the University of Arizona in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the State Folk & Traditional arts partner for the Arizona Commission on the Arts through the National Endowment for the Arts. We do this by 1. Producing festivals and public programs that increase understanding and respect for folklife practices, 2. Providing direct support to heritage-based artists in the region. 3. Documenting folklife and amplifying the voices of artists and cultural workers engaged in folklife practices. Our role is to create, uplift, and maintain the platforms where artists and ethnic/traditional/heritage innovators animate the foundation of community, and their folklife, on their own terms.
SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE
Tohono O’odham Young Voices Podcast is a show that focuses on sharing tribal topics and stories of Southern Arizona within’ indigenous communities. Telling our own stories uncensored without limitations or changes to our narratives creates empowerment. We work on educating the public and communicating awareness and information from community perspectives. We provide accessible media outlets that archive and distribute this content on mainstream music/podcast platforms.