Community Gathers to Celebrate the O’otham New Year

July 7, 2023

Velia Moncada

Gila River Indian News

The Huhugham Heritage Center hosted a celebration on June 23 to welcome the 2023 O’otham New Year, where dancers and traditional singers, of all ages, from the Community performed in the center courtyard.  At the same time, attendees dressed in cultural attire and joined the festivities by dancing to the music and songs that continued throughout the night.

The event was the first celebration since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Gila River Royalty hosted this year’s gathering. 

The night’s program included Akimel O’otham and Pee Posh singing, dancing, and traditional performances.  It featured Pee Posh bird dancing and O’otham singers showcasing basket dances, social dancing, and giveaway.

“I wanted to bring our Community together and celebrate with one another,” said 2023-24 Miss Gila River Lehua Lani Dosela.  She organized the 2023 O’otham New Year celebration event with her GRIC royalty committee.  She contributed 18 ribbon shirts and nine skirts that she sewed for the dance giveaway. 

The 2023 O’otham New Year drew families and friends and people throughout the districts to celebrate the season’s changing into the summer solstice.  

Sue Sixkiller from District 1 attended the celebration and remarked on how she recognizes the O’otham New Year as a time of renewal in life, with a time to rejoice and gather with one another and a moment to have pride in the Community and what the Community has to offer.  

Also present during the event was Lt. Gov. Monica Antone. Lt. Gov. Antone acknowledged the efforts to organize the event and expressed her gratitude towards the Huhugam Heritage Center staff for their hard work and dedication in making the Miss Gila River O’otham New Year event a success.

The celebration allowed Community members to dance to the songs of the Pee Posh and the O’otham while learning the language of one another.  The event also cultivated a space for everyone to embrace the beauty in the people and traditional customs that make up the Gila River Indian Community.