“Hostile Terrain 94,” an exhibit commemorating those who have died crossing the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, is now on view at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. The exhibit is cosponsored by the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies and was brought to the museum through the efforts of UO professors. It is on view through Friday, May 9.
More than 1,000 UO students, staff, faculty and volunteers worked to create over 4,000 handwritten toe tags, each representing someone who lost their life crossing the Sonoran Desert between the mid-1990s and 2024. The tags are geolocated on a wall map of the desert showing the exact locations where human remains were found.
“Now more than ever, it’s vital for museums to foster meaningful dialogue on pressing social issues,” said Todd Braje, executive director of the museum. “‘Hostile Terrain 94’ is an opportunity to honor those who gave everything in hope of a better life and to reflect on the humanitarian crisis at our borders.”
Originally proposed by two UO faculty members, the exhibit was made possible through the work of hundreds of UO students who created the handwritten toe tags. Students also installed the exhibit, pinning each tag to its appropriate location and are spending hours in the exhibit each week interacting with guests.
“It’s been meaningful that so many students have learned from participating in the exhibit,” said Tobin Hansen, instructor of social science at the Clark Honors College. “Students are examining border enforcement practices and recognizing the humanity of people who migrate. And I’m inspired by the students who signed up to dedicate many hours to mount and interpret the exhibit.”
“Participating in the ‘Hostile Terrain 94’ exhibit has been an extremely impactful and compelling experience for me,” said Halden Gruetzmacher, an honors student who participated in the creation of the exhibit and is volunteering as a museum interpreter. “The emphasis on genuine human connection and remembrance reminds me how important it is to acknowledge the experiences of others.”
Since 2019, “Hostile Terrain 94” has traveled to more than 150 universities, colleges and museums around the world. The core exhibit is sponsored and organized by the Undocumented Migration Project. While the core of the project remains the same, the museum’s exhibit includes an ofrenda created under the cultural expertise of Mexican artist Kenya Marquez. The ofrenda uses authentic, traditional Mexican materials to honor the dead, both identified and unidentified.
“Bringing the exhibit to UO at this time has offered faculty who teach subjects related to migration, immigration policy and citizenship the opportunity to reflect on these topics through engaged, hands-on learning and collaboratively participating in the creation of the exhibit materials,” said Kristin Yarris, professor of global studies and women’s, gender and sexuality studies.
“I hope this raw encounter of humanity provokes important conversations and empathy toward those who met their fate during the treacherous journey across the Sonoran Desert,” Gruetzmacher said. “It has sparked many thoughtful conversations for me.”
Employees can get into the Museum of Natural and Cultural History free by showing their UO ID card. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
—Top photo: Two students examine a wall covered in white and manila colored toe tags, pinned to a map of Arizona.