Welcome to the maze

"We only tell stories in the winter; otherwise the creatures that sting and bite may get you" Mary advised as we were finishing up charting for the day. Story-telling preserves the collective memories and traditions of the Tohono O'odham. Like all good stories their meanings evolve and transform with the passage of time and motive of the listeners. The mysteries of the TO traditions are still unknown and foreign to me, but I can appreciate the power of these stories. Especially this time of year when we are inundated with the Christmas narrative with which I have grown up and am most familiar. A baby in a manger, stockings hung on a chimney, wise men from afar, lights on an evergreen tree- Christmas traditions have different meanings to me now as Tina and I create our own celebration, then they did when I was a kid eagerly waiting with my brother for reindeer to land and Santa to bring gifts. Re-imagining these stories become timeless as memories of the past, current celebrations and thoughts of the future blend. (I already know how next year’s Christmas decorations will be bigger and better). It is not just Scrooge who must face Christmas ghosts-past, present and future- we all do. And so it is with other traditions. The most prominent image of the TO tradition is the "Man in the Maze" a powerful emblem of life's spiritual and physical journey. I was first introduced to this concept a year ago while embarking on an Arizona job searching tour. It is simple and profound. The teenager behind the sales counter at TOCA was the first person to interpret its significance saying, "it means different things to different people" then elucidated its role for her. It has been to a warm welcome that I have been granted the responsibility to serve the healthcare needs of the TO people through the services of IHS. This humbling responsibility is the start of an incredible journey - the entrance to the maze. As the adventures through the labyrinth continue into the New Year, honoring the stories and milestones of 2014 is paramount. 2014 has been a transformational year: passing my boards, finishing residency, getting married to the love of my life, traveling to India and Taiwan, moving to Tucson, starting my first job as a Family Physician, rehabbing a debilitating knee injury, supporting family through a medical scare, honoring the 1 year anniversary of my grandfather's passing. It was a year of endurance and growth, a year most characterized by joy. I am excited to discover what 2015 reveals and to further appreciate the timeless traditions of my own family and the TO culture.

http://www.wernative.org/SubTopicDetails.aspx?id=299&type=MyCulture 12/23/14