CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Cultural Connections
Remembering the Sandwich House They are nearly all but gone, yet there a family or community member died, it still linger many fond memories of the was tradition to burn the house and all sandwich house. But how did this little the deceased’s personal belongings. house come to be and what does it The remaining family then chose a new mean to us? plot of land and built a new house. Cultural Resources Director Kelly As more non-Native settlers, especially Washington shared a bit about the the Spanish with their adobe houses, origins of the sandwich house. came to the community, they wondered “It was really an innovation of our at this practice and thought that people,” Kelly said. “They are unique sturdier, more permanent homes would and something you don’t really see be better. anywhere else.” To encourage community members For a long time, the River People lived to start building adobe houses, wellin round houses called ki: in O’odham meaning groups offered a variety of or va in Piipaash. They were made incentives to families who built them. of branches and other light natural Around that time in the 1930s, the material that could be bent into a dome canals in the community were being shape. The roofs were thatched and redone with concrete. The redwood covered with mud and dirt to make them Above Photo Credit: rainproof. Home built by Leonard Carlos and friends for daughter These houses were sturdy, but when Florine Carlos courtesy of the Huhugam Ki: Museum. 14 WINTER 2024
