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Glossary |
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |
The Pima trace their ancestors back to the Hohokam, They call themselves Akimel O'odham. This name means "river people." The Pima have lived near the desert rivers for hundreds of years. They grew corn for flour and cotton to make cloth. They also hunted and gathered wild plants. They grew wheat and raised chicken and sheep.
Today the Pima live on three reservations in Arizona and in other towns.
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More about the Pima Indians
The Tohono O'odham are related to the Pima. Long ago they moved to the desert. Tohono O'odham means "desert people." Their old name Papago means "Bean People." The first Tohono O'odham people farmed in the summer. They built dams to hold back rainwater. They used the water to irrigate their fields of beans, squash and corn.
Living on the Reservation
The Tohono O'odham Reservation is very large, but much of the land is not good for farming. It is not easy to grow crops in the desert. The Tohono O'odham still gather wild desert foods. In the summer they harvest the fruit of the saguaro cactus. They cook the fruit, then pour off the thick syrup. They use the syrup to make jam or wine. They grind the seeds into flour.
The Tohono O'odham also raise cattle. In dry years, hundreds of cattle die because they can't find enough to eat. Many people work part of the year in towns and cities close to the reservation.
Tohono O'odham Fair and Rodeo
The All Indian Tribal Fair and Rodeo is the biggest event on the reservation. There are dancers, games, and a Miss Tohono O'odham contest. Visitors come tot he fair to shop for baskets. The Tohono O'odham make coiled baskets in many shapes. They use yucca fibers, beargrass, devil's claw, and willow to make the baskets.
The Kitt Peak National Observatory
The Kitt Peak National Observatory is on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. It is an astronomy research center. Astronomy is the study of the stars and planets.
The Maricopa live on the Gila and Salt River Reservation with the Pima. Long ago, unfriendly tribes drove them away from the Colorado River. The Maricopa are famous for their pottery. They used to use different pots for different things. Women used to carry large water pots on their heads. The people used a pot for syrup. Today, Maricopa people earn money by farming and growing cotton. They also work at jobs in Phoenix.
Both the Yaqui and Cocopah came from Mexico. Some of their people still live in Mexico. The Cocopah farmed near the Colorado River many years ago. They gathered grass seeds for food and fished in the river. Today, the river does not run through their land because people have built dams upstream, The dams control how much water flows in the rivers.
The Yaqui celebrate the Easter holiday and have their own "Easter Celebration." They live on the Pascua-Yaqui Reservation.
Long ago the Mohave lived near the Colorado River. The mesquite tree provided them with food. They used its bark to make shoes and the sap to make glue. Today, the Mohave grow corn, alfalfa, melons and lettuce.
The Yuma also lived near the Colorado River. They were warriors and farmers. Today, they still depend on the Colorado River for water.
