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Renowned Akimel O’odham artist and historian Royce Manuel died Monday in Scottsdale, surrounded by his family. He was 68.
Manuel was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in January and, after undergoing treatments early on in his diagnosis, he chose to spend his remaining time in hospice care in Scottsdale. Part of me thought I still had a little more time, Debbie Nez Manuel said of her husband s passing. I have a feeling that Royce has a lot to do with the amount of support that I received since (Monday).
Royce and Debbie had been together for more than 15 years and shared a life together on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community with their combined family of eight. Debbie is a citizen of the Navajo Nation.
Royce Manuel, renowned Salt River basketweaver and community leader, dies at 68 Shondiin Silversmith, Arizona Republic
Renowned Akimel O’odham artist and historian Royce Manuel died Monday in Scottsdale, surrounded by his family. He was 68.
Manuel was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in January and, after undergoing treatments early on in his diagnosis, he chose to spend his remaining time in hospice care in Scottsdale. Part of me thought I still had a little more time, Debbie Nez Manuel said of her husband s passing. I have a feeling that Royce has a lot to do with the amount of support that I received since (Monday).
Over the years, I ve seen the changes within our land here.
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But he ran into an issue. “The river bottom where I gather material on the south side is where Mesa’s sewage plant is.”
He believes the sewage plant’s discharges affect the groundwater and makes the bark too brittle to use as post ties.
“The bark broke too easily, and I couldn’t use it to tie anything down,” he said. Manuel had to resort to wire to finish the watto.
Manuel also said that arrowweed (
Pluchea sericea) doesn’t grow as abundantly as it once did. Not only is it in short supply due to the decline of riparian areas, but when he does find it, the plants have growths or other imperfections. That means he has to travel to more isolated areas to gather arrowweed that hasn’t been affected by human activity.