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From 1915-1959 Rufus was the name of an actual live Bobcat that represented the University of Arizona as there mascot. The first Rufus has a similar story to a lot of us Natives. He was captured by an Army blacksmith and sold to some freshman students for $9.41, who then went to the University and got permission to make the wild animal there Mascot. During the first year of imprisoning Rufus they were trying to make him perform stunts and as Rufus was attempting to jump from one tree to another, he missed and was unfortunately hung to death. After I read this story I wanted to pay homage to Rufus by naming my maze design after him because he shares a similar story to a lot of us indigenous people. His nemesis is the coyote who in our culture represents the trickster. He was taken away from his homeland and imprisoned and then they made him into there mascot. And finally hanging him and killing him for entertainment purposes. The crazy thing about Rufus is and I didn't know it at the time I named him, but the next day I realized that I actually named Rufus on the day he died 105 years to the day on April 17th! You can research the Rufus story on the University's website under Mascot History. I also finished designing Rufus during the COVID lockdown and finished it on April 10th 2020, but didn't name him until the 17th. I had a fellow O'odham tell me that I was disrespecting the maze by doing this design, but I didn't feel that comment at all because every elder I showed it too gave them a big smile and it made them happy and to me and most people I know this is good medicine. So the day he said that was the 17th, and so that's how I found the article about Rufus. After I realized Rufus was named on the same day he passed, I felt like this was meant to be and I don't feel at all that I have disrespected the maze and that timing was the Universe's confirmation that I wasn't being disrespectful. Please visit our True Descendants store to check out all of our Rufus merch.

When the first settlers arrived in this region, they turned to the native Sobaipuri O’Odham people to ask the name of this land. The O’Odham replied with “Cukson,” meaning “Black Base,” a reference to the dark base of what is now known as A-Mountain. Over time, “Cukson” evolved into Tucson. We honor and acknowledge the Indigenous heritage and deep cultural roots that continue to shape this land and community.

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