Experts say Arizona tribes' role in drought negotiations marks turning point for inclusion

SACATON-Sprouting through the cracked floor of the Sonoran Desert, tepary beans thrive in the dry heat and carry with them centuries of resilience from the Indigenous Pima people of southern Arizona.

"We have our water. It's our life. It's our livelihood, and it's our culture," said Ramona Button, owner of Ramona Farms.

Ramona Button and her husband, Terry, have been farming traditional native foods on the Gila River Indian Community for more than 40 years, including the tepary bean, a staple of native dishes for centuries.

"And we're experts in dealing with drought," Terry Button said.

With m...