Ariq Joanson worked as a farmer of moisture on the desert planet Tatooine. Eyvind, another moisture farmer, was his closest companion. In addition to his work in moisture farming, Joanson sought to establish harmony among the Sand People, the Jawas, and the moisture farmers. This aspiration for peace arose from a prior experience where he had achieved a peaceful understanding with the Tuskens by providing them with water at the border of his property. During his initial effort to broker peace among the three factions, they were surprised by an attack from stormtroopers belonging to the Galactic Empire, who aimed to perpetuate conflict between the inhabitants and the Tuskens. Realizing that his peace initiative was currently unachievable, Joanson initially planned to depart Tatooine and enlist in the expanding Rebel Alliance; however, he ultimately resolved to remain on Tatooine and initiate a local uprising.
Decipher frequently portrays him with the appearance of an unidentified moisture farmer, but according to Leland Chee, Lucasfilm possesses no official visual representation of Joanson.