Joseph Joaquin, Cultural Resources Specialist

Joseph Joaquin, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, has been the Cultural Resources Specialist in the tribe’s Cultural Affairs Office for more than a decade. When serving as a member of the tribe’s Legislative Council, Mr. Joaquin was Chair of the Cultural Preservation Committee, and in that capacity was a major contributor to organizing the Cultural Affairs Office. Mr. Joaquin has long been a central figure in the Four Southern Tribes Working Group, an organization designed to address cultural resource issues between the O’odham and Pee Posh peoples and state and federal agencies.

He has been instrumental in plans to build the Tohono O’odham Cultural Center and Museum at Topawa, an institution that will help to preserve Tohono O’odham culture. Mr. Joaquin is also a tribal representative on the Tucson-Pima County Historic Preservation Committee and works with Tohono O’odham groups in Mexico preserving cultural resources and sacred places in Sonora. With all his responsibilities, he still carves out time to make presentations about O’odham culture to many different groups, including elementary-school-age children.