Tohono O’Odham (Papago) Calendar Stick

Description

Tohono O’Odham Calendar Stick.
The Tohono O’Odham Indians have lived in the Sonoran region for several hundred years. In the absence of a formal written language, the Tohono O’odham used calendar sticks (called Oos:hikbina) to mark important dates and events in their history. They created the calendar sticks by using the ribs from a saguaro cactus. On each calendar stick, the Tohono O’odham marked the years from one rainy period to the next.  This Oos:hikbina would help a story-teller recount the history of the people from their first encounters with the Spanish in 1535, to the arrival of Father Kino in 1687, construction of the San Xavier Mission in 1783, the establishment of the reservation in 1854 and through until the date the calendar stick was made (1999).
This stick was created by R. Ramon of the Tohono O’Odham.  It measures 8.5” long.