Don'tprickyourselfona cactus

Yet they still managed to thrive. At least until the settlers came along. I was amazed to learn about all the intelligence and cleverness the Native Americans possessed. They were able to find ways to cook their food, preserve food and heal wounds.

JENNIFER

Nespoli

late c~ctus over spring break. Mmm, yummy! Actually, it was pretty tasteless, but if I was ever stranded in the desert, cactus could save my life. I bet many people don't know that certain cactus plants are edible. I didn't know until I went to Arizona over spring break and actually took a piece of Cholla cactus, squeamishly put it in my mouth, chewed and swallowed. And lived to tell the tale.

Cactus plants have many uses, including medicinal, healing and nutritional. Americans may never have discovered those uses if it wasn't for the Native Americans that lived on the land centuries before we ever set eyes on it.

The Native Americans managed to survive living in the Arizona desert without any of the luxuries we have today. Since Arizona is such a dry state, averaging only 10 inches of rain a year in some parts, water can be pumped from the Colorado River and other places in times of extreme drought. However, the Native Americans dido 't have such an advanced system of irrigation.

In fact, they invented the first crock pot. They knew that the inside of a cactus maintains a constant temperature of 70-75 degrees, whether it's in intense sunshine or the cold of night. So they cut the top off of a small cactus and scooped out the insides like a pumpkin. Then they would put heated stones in the bottom, some leaves above that, then their meat or food, and then more hot stones on the top. Then the lid would go back on, the Native Americans would go about their daily chores, then come back that night and have a nicely cooked meal.

This was just one of the few great uses that Native Americans had for the cactus plant. They were innovative enough to take a simple living thing and turn it into something that could benefit them greatly.

They also knew of many plants that had healing abilities like nothing we have today. One particular plant has a liquid inside of it that is similar to aloe. If rubbed on a wound, it forms a new skin over the old skin and seals the wound. So much for stitches.

Native Americans had no use for material possessions. ·They lived close to the land and were deeply concerned with preserving the earth. They had respect for the animals also.

Every spring when the plants are in bloom, the cacti grow fruit on their arms. The Native Americans made a holiday out of the harvest. They would make long poles to knock the fruit off while the children would hold baskets and try to catch it in the basket as it fell. Whatever fruit dropped on the ground, they would leave for the animals to eat.

Nothing was wasted. Everything had a use.

Instead of pushing these intelligent and resourceful people off of their land and forcing them to accept the American culture, we should have been learning all we could from them.

They had much to teach. They had lived with the land for so long, and it was a deep part of their religious beliefs.

Unfortunately, most of us will never know much of their beliefs and culture.

If, at the very least, we could adopt their deep respect for the earth and its natural inhabitants, we would all be better off. They set a good example for us.

And if you are ever in Arizona in the Sonoran Desert area, be sure to get yourself a raw piece of cactus. It's soft, it's green and it melts in your mouth.

JenniferNespoliis a juniormajoringin English/communication.Sheis oneof Loquitur'sfeatureseditors.Wenever knewshehadsucha wildstreakin her.