In Arizona, Tohono O'odham members begin sacred saguaro harvest

In the U.S. state of Arizona, members of the Tohono O'odham Nation have begun their annual sacred saguaro fruit harvest, known as "bahidaj," marking the start of the New Year.

The ritual takes place over several weeks in late June to early July, when the ruby-red fruit ripens atop the towering saguaro cactus that can reach 12 meters tall.

The fruits, once harvested, are boiled into syrup, and some are fermented into wine, which is used for a rain ceremony.

These ceremonies affirm ancestral bonds, the relationship with natural resources, and the resilience of the Native Americans' identity.