The Tohono O’odham people have no word for “wall.”
Native lands in geopolitical purgatory,
Half Arizonan, half Sonoran.
A nation with no sovereignty.
The Mohawk live with one foot in Canada
And one in the United States
(note oxymoron to use later as classroom example).
The Seto people are Estonian,
Or Russian,
Or Estonian –
Depending on street address
Or school district
Or maybe just accident of birth.
Africa and the Middle East –
Ancient tribes, too many to count it seems,
Sliced and diced and filleted
Into starter kit nations –
Just add war.
How far back does it go?
Did the ancient Judeans or Eqyptians or Sumerians
Conquer and divide
In this same way?
Is it just the way humans are?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
The Tohono O’odham people have no word for “wall.”
Deb Moore 