S-ko:mag Mashath

December 15, 2017

Huhugam Heritage Center

Gila River Indian Community

S-ko:mag Mashath means the “gray/brown month” in our Akimel O’otham Ñeok, and refers to the desert plants that go dormant during the winter months.  This annual occurrence leaves our jeved various shades of s-ko:mag, (gray and brown).  When rainy weather approaches this makes for grey cloud covered skies, and with the rise in moisture this makes the Thothoa’ag appear misty and grey.  Che:v S-komag (San Tan Mountain) takes its name from the description of being tall and grey.  Most of Che:v S-komag is composed of mica-schist which gives the majority of the thoa’ag a grey appearance.  As we swing into the thick of the holiday season in the days ahead, we balance work, school, home-life, and especially decorating our homes for the big days ahead.  As we travel through town we see parking lot after parking lot encouraging us to stop and buy a Christmas tree.  I remember when O’otham used to think outside the box when it came to decorating for the holidays.  One innovative family used a branch of ku:k chehethag (palo verde) tree that was shaped into a Christmas tree as their holiday tree.  Another family used a dried hadshadkam (teddy-bear cholla) cactus plant skeleton that was spray painted white and hung with ornaments and beaded garlands.  As we travel around the valleys we see how other people have adapted to using desert plants as a base to decorate their yards. A few desert plants used for the holidays include dried vopotham sha’i (common tumbleweed), ha:shañ (saguaro cactus), melok (ocotillo), and hevhothakud (desert fan-palm).  One desert cactus that is associated with the holidays is a’aj nav (Christmas cholla) this due to the fact that it bears fruit during this time of year.  This month’s word match will focus on desert plants used as holiday decorations.  We encourage you to learn these words and use  them in your everyday lives.  We also encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to decorating for the holidays.  From all of our families here at your Huhugam Heritage Center, we wish all of our nanaipoich and hahajuñ a “S-he:kig Jiosh Alithag Ma:sig Thash ch heg Vechij Aithag!”