Sudagĭ 'O Wuḍ Doakag (Water is Life) Program Update

By: Pachynne Ignacio, Ṣu:dagī ‘O Wuḍ Doakag Facilitator

Sudagĭ 'O Wuḍ Doakag (SOWD/Water is Life) staff would like to proudly introduce this year's class of 2021-2022 student interns. This is our third year as a program at Baboquivari High School and so far, our students have learned about water systems, water quality, and quantity, and most recently they learned about ecosystem restoration.

SOWD crew with Noland Johnson after a tour of his family’s farm, Alexander Pancho Memorial Farms. Cowlic, AZ.

SOWD is an after-school program that emphasizes teachings about rainwater harvesting and water conservation efforts around the world. At the end of each year, we help the students construct their water harvesting designs at Baboquivari secondary campus. We incorporate teaching about the drastic changes to traditional O'odham lands and discuss how these changes came to be, and what we can possibly do to restore our homelands. ​

Interns observing natural running water in the Santa Cruz River with San Xavier Natural Resources. Cukṣon (Tucson), AZ.

Field trips that we take on Saturdays bring lessons to life and inspire our students to create interesting and inspired ideas for the project they will be creating in the spring semester as a team. So far, we have visited Alexander Pancho Memorial Farm in Cowlic, Wa:k Hikdan and the San Pedro River. ​

Swale diverted rainwater in a wo’o (man-made watering hole) that’s utilized for traditional crops and cattle. Cowlic, AZ. Alexander Pancho Memorial Farms.

We are excited about future trips and projects the students will participate in and look forward to sharing our journey with you!

To learn more and to support the Ṣu:dagī ‘O Wuḍ Doakag (Water is Life) after-school program please click here.