CHN Host First Annual Toka Women’s Health Event
ASugust 22, 2025
Jeston Morris
Community Newsperson
SACATON – Community Health Nutrition (CHN) hosted the First Annual Toka Women’s Health Event on Aug. 9 at the Sacaton Fairgrounds.
The event aimed to promote wellness through physical activity, cultural preservation, and nutrition education for women in the community. Participants received guidance on hydration, balanced meals, and traditional foods as fuel. The gathering created a welcoming space for women of all generations to connect, learn, and honor the traditional game of Toka.
A total of 42 participants and 28 players, ranging in age from 6 to 72, attended. CHN plans to host the event again next year. CHN operates under the Tribal Health Department (THD), which provided booths representing the Injury Prevention Program, Disease Surveillance Program, and Tribal Recreation and Wellness.
Calista Rocha, community health nutritionist, delivered the welcome remarks and led a lesson on nutrition. Denise Jackson, team captain for Hemakodag, provided a lesson and demonstration on the Toka game. April Morago, team captain for Hemako Ep, brought her team for the demonstration game. Jilayne Jackson sang the Toka song during the opening, and Candalerian Preston, director of Tribal Health, gave the closing remarks. A healthy breakfast was served.
“I’d like to welcome you to the Women’s Health Toka Event. I am a nutritionist, and I’m going to share some information about nutrition and hydration,” Rocha said.
“We’ll start with hydration. We live in Arizona, and we know how hot it can get. Therefore, we need to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and electrolytes. Our bodies need minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium. When you signed in, you probably picked up an electrolyte packet,” she said.
“You can stay hydrated by eating fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupe, pineapple, bananas, bell peppers, lettuce, and celery,” Rocha said. “It’s important to eat a balanced meal that includes protein and carbohydrates. Protein repairs muscles, and carbohydrates restore your energy.” “Traditional food is important. Beans have protein and fiber. Squash is rich in vitamins C, B6, and beta-carotene. Nopal cactus is rich in antioxidants,” she added.
The District 3 Toka field is located at the northwest corner of Bluebird and Seed Farm roads. The goals are on the east and west sides, although Toka fields traditionally have goals on the north and south sides.
“Our Toka team name is Hemakodag. It means togetherness or unity. We chose that name because our team members come from different places, such as Gila River, Ak-Chin, and Chui Chu. I’ve been playing Toka for 15 years. I started when I was living in Ak-Chin,” Jackson said.
“Much of the Toka tournament play happens on the Tohono O’odham Nation. The Grandmama Toka Tournament is held in Sells, where more than 20 teams participate annually,” she said.
“There are four teams on Gila River: Hemako Ep, Akimel O’otham, Hemakodag, and Hogin. Two teams are from Salt River. The Tohono O’odham Nation has approximately 20 teams,” Jackson said. “Toka teams are usually named after the village they come from. April Morago’s team name is Hemako Ep, which means ‘let’s playone more.’ Her team has 25 to 30 members.”
“Down south refers to the Tohono O’odham Nation. One rule of thumb when you’re down south is don’t say ‘punk’ or ‘stick.’ The O’otham names are significant,” Jackson said. “The stick is called the u’usago, and the ball is called the ‘ola. The stick is made from mesquite.”
“I went to April Ignacio in Sells, Arizona. She possesses Toka knowledge and taught me how to make the u’usago and ‘ola and how to play Toka,” Jackson said. “In the past, men harvested mesquite for u’usago. At one time, the game stopped. April Ignacio’s mother, Verna, researched how to revive the game, including making the u’usago and ‘ola. Mesquite is preferred down south, while Ak-Chin uses willow.”
“When we harvest mesquite to make u’usago, we cut pieces at least six-feet long. The mesquite must be green. Not every u’usago is the same—they vary in size and shape,” Jackson said. “To make the u’usago, you remove all the small branches, dig a trench, and build a fire inside. When the fire turns to embers, you lay the mesquite in it. In two to three minutes, you’ll hear it popping. Afterthe poppistops, you take it out and shape the wood while it’s still hot.”
“You sand off the rough areas. When cutting to size, you cut from the top—the root side, which has a wider diameter. The bottom is the tip of the u’usago, which contacts the ‘ola,” she said. “My first u’usago was given to me by a retired Akimel O’otham Toka player. It was made of willow.”
Preston gave the concluding remarks.
“Thank you for coming out to the Toka Women’s Health Event. This is our first Toka event for our department. I express my sincere appreciation to all of you for attending and showing your support. I want to thank Denise Jackson for educating community members and THD staff about the significance of Toka,” Preston said.
“As women, we often put others before our own health. I’d like to remind everyone to take care of their health by doing a mental health and wellness checkup,” she said. “One thing I’ve learned is that the only way to help someone is to help yourself first.”Morago reflected on the event following the demonstration game.
“We’ve been playing Toka for 10 years. My girls respect the game—they’re keeping the Toka tradition alive,” said Morago, captain of Hemako Ep. “I appreciate meeting new people and giving them the opportunity to try something new.”
“To enhance new players’ interest, it might be a good idea to have them watch a couple of games and then invite them to play at an event like today’s,” she said.