As a traditional O'odham, Ofelia speaks on behalf of the Traditional O'odham Leaders, the council of O'odham communities on the
southern O'odham territories, and carries the words of the ceremonial leaders to unite our common efforts to stay strong.
She has represented the O'odham as part of La Otra Campaña and the World People's Summit on Climate Change in Cochabamba,
Bolivia. “These are the places that hold strength,” she says. “[I] was very fortunate to be at these places.”

Campaigns such as VOICE Against the WALL and Stop the Dump have involved solidarity demonstrations across the state of Arizona
including EF!ers, indigenous peoples and other activists. We were very fortunate to interview her for the 30th Anniversary.. Click here to
view the entire article in Adobe Reader format
Imperialism – lately this word has been re-entering debate and speech around the country.  For the most part these days, the word
imperialism is being used to describe the actions of the United States Government as it seeks to gain control over Middle Eastern
governments and economies.  The continuing occupation of Iraq by the United States is the best example of this neo-imperialism.

But imperialism is not limited to lands across the oceans, and the United States Government is currently engaged in the occupation of
lands much closer to home.  We must never forget that the very lands claimed by the Government of the United States in North America
are claimed by nothing other than the right of conquest.  The United States Government is a Government of occupation here in North
America and the lands that it continues to claim and occupy are in spirit still the autonomous territories of the indigenous tribes that
existed here before the first European colonists stepped foot on the continent.  

Since 9-11 the United States government has ratcheted up its attacks against the indigenous...Click here to view the entire interview
in Adobe reader format
Click on above pictures to enlarge:  Hit back browser button to retrun to normal size
O'odham Solidarity
Across Borders
Collective

The O’odham way of life is based on the land that has held
the remains of our ancestors since the creation of this world.
The O’odham did not migrate from anywhere according to our
oral history.  Our creation tellings record our history and teach
the O’odham the principles of life. The survival of O’odham
today is our him’dag.

The Tohono O’odham Nation’s collaboration with the
Department of Homeland Security's inhumane border policies
is an outright violation of the O’odham him’dag - the traditional
O’odham way of life. Although the Tohono O’odham Nation is a
sovereign nation, it has no control of it’s lands and has no
control over the administration of it’s own tribal form of
government. Without true sovereignty, the tribal government
lacks the authority and ability to denounce the abuses of
human life and the irreparable destruction of the natural
habitat of our relatives - the plant life and animal life. This in
direct violation of the O’odham principles of life.

Click here to view entire article...
The O'odham VOICE Against the WALL is organizing and
advocating for the traditional O'odham leaders of the O'odham
communities in the Southern Territory of Mexico and the
Northern Territory of the United States.

The O'odham VOICE Against the WALL is training O'odham
youth on Indigenous Rights and O'odham Rights.

The O'odham VOICE Against the WALL is training O'odham
youth to recognize Human Rights violations and O'odham
Rights violations.

The O'odham VOICE Against the WALL is training O'odham
youth to document Human Rights violations and O'odham
Rights violations through creative writing, photography, video
film making and artistic expression, such as music, artworks
and spoken word.

Wish List:  travel funds, cameras, film supply, video camera
and film, computer equipment, website...
Community Needs:  a community work truck, legal
assistance, grant writing, sustainable economic development...
Direct cash donations are also essential!
Please remember that every little bit helps!
Donate to the O'odham Voice Against the Wall

Mail well concealed cash or money order to:
PO. Box 1835
Sells, Arizona  85634
Resistance and Collaboration:
O'odham Responses to U.S. Invasion

By Jeff Hendricks


This is a short historical paper dealing with O'odham  responses to colonization.  
The paper begins with a short overview of Spanish Colonization and moves through the
Mexican Period and into the period of United States colonial control of the O'odham territory.

This paper uses United States Indian policy as a lens to view O'odham history.  The primary
purpose of this study is to give a historical context to O'odham struggles for Tribal Autonomy
in the midst of Colonial occupation and repression.  In addition, this paper also challenges
the progress narrative of "civilization" and gives many examples of how the historical
struggle of the Traditional O'odham to maintain their autonomy has in fact been a struggle
against "civilization" it-self.

Click here to view this article in Adobe Reader format

June 1, 2011:  Opposition Statement to the
South Mountain Freeway Extension to the
Loop 202 ; For the Ancestors and
Descendants of O’odham Lands and
O’odham Sacred Places

April 2011:  Traditional Elder Ofelia Rivas to
Speak at the University of Massachusetts
Amherst: "The Border Crossed Us - A
temporary public art installation by the
Institute for Infinitely Small Things"

- Dec. 20, 2010
"Caught in the Crossfire:  Border Crisis
Threatens Traditional Way of Life for
Sovereign Tohono O'odham Nation,"

-Nov. 2010
Perspectives of Native Struggles:  Ward
Churchill & Ofelia Rivas

-Oct. 2010
On The Front Lines: A Panel on Ecological
Defense

-Oct. 2010
Today Needs Another Name:  This
Columbus Day the Spirit of 1492 Is Alive
and Well

-Aug. 2010
O'odham to National Guard: 'We do not
want you on our lands'

-Apr. 2010
Bolivia: World People's Conference on
Climate Change and the Rights of Mother
Earth - Peoples Agreement

- Apr. 2010
O'odham Voice Against the Wall Founder
Ofelia Rivas Attends Climate Summit in
Bolivia

- Mar. 2010
2010 Annual Gathering to Protect
Quitovac:  Thank You Message

- Feb. 25, 2010
O'odham Ofelia Rivas Imprisoned for Four
Days in Southern Chiapas while
Supporting Zapatistas

- Nov. 13, 2009
Apartheid in America:  Surviving
Occupation on O'odham Lands - Report
Back from O'odham Voice Aginst the Wall
Fundraiser with Ward Churchill

- Oct. 1, 2009
Press Release:  Ward Churchill to Speak at
Solidarity Fundraiser for the O'odham
Voice Against the Wall

- June 1, 2009
Press Release:  Protest to take place
Friday, June 5, 2009 at 12:00 p.m  at the
municipal building in Sonoyta, Sonora, to
demand No Toxic Waste Dump or Border
Wall on O’odham Lands.

- May 6, 2009
Reports from the May 6, 2009 International
Day of Action: "No Toxic Dump or Border
Wall onO'odham Lands!"

- March, 28  2009
Solidarity Gathering Against Toxic Dump
Proposal Near Sacred Site of Quitovac;
Resolution Against the Dump is Adopted

- December, 2009
Traditional O'odham Activist Ofelia Rivas
Delilvers Statement to Zapatista Gathering
Dignia Rabina

- July, 2008
Temporary Victory:  Quitovac toxic dump
haulted for now.  Read the letter from the
EPA


Click Here to View Older archived articles
Pictures from O'odham Land in the Occupied areas of  the South West
United States and Northern Mexico
Benefit Event: Dec.  10, 2011
Press Release
On December 10, 2011, noted academics and
authors John Zerzan, Ward Churchill, and
Julian Kunnie will speak in support of our
demand to be free of occupation.  The event will
benefit O'odham VOICE Against the WALL and
the Dry River Radical Resource Center, a center
for anarchist organizing for over seven years.

Saturday Dec. 10, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
@ Dry River Radical Resource
Center, 140 N. Main, Tucson, AZ

Click Here for flyer of the event
Click on the image above to
view the slide show:  
A Voice in the Desert
by Jason Jaacks of Cordellera Productions
Click on the image above to learn more about the wall & its environmental effects
O'odham to National Guard:  'We do not want you on our lands'
"We are not compliant people, we are people with great dignity and confidence.
We are a people of endurance..." Continue here
Many thanks to the
Border Opposition Action Fund
as well as Dan and Dave for their
generous donations!
Click Here to Donate
To Donate with a credit or debit card using PayPal

Please Click On This Link
Nov. 2011 - New Alert!

O'odham Sacred Site of
Quitovac once again under
threat from US Gold Mining
Company Silver Scott Mines

Silver Scott Mines has plans for an
open pit gold leach mine near Quitovac.
 Read Here

Traditional O'odham Leaders
Resolution Against the Mine