Fort Mojave Indian Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
Pipa Aha Macav (Mohave)
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Location of Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
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| Tribe | Fort Mojave | |
| Country | United States | |
| States | Arizona California Nevada |
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| Counties | Clark Mohave San Bernardino |
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| Established | 1870 | |
| Headquarters | Needles | |
| Government | ||
| • Body | Fort Mojave Tribal Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 65.44 sq mi (169.5 km2) | |
| Population
(2017)
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| • Total | 1,707 | |
| • Density | 26.085/sq mi (10.071/km2) | |
| Website | fortmojaveindiantribe.com | |
The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation is a special area of land for the Mohave people. It stretches along the Colorado River across three states: Arizona, California, and Nevada. This reservation is home to about 1,100 members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. This tribe is officially recognized by the U.S. government. Their traditional name for themselves is Pipa Aha Macav.
The reservation covers a large area, but not all of it is lived on by Mohave people. The Mohave tribe has rented out some of their land to companies that grow crops like cotton, corn, and soybeans. Many people who work on these farms are not Native American. The reservation also includes the old Fort Mohave site and the start of the historic Mojave Road.
Contents
History of the Fort Mojave Reservation
For thousands of years, different groups of Native Americans lived on these lands. The reservation covers parts of Arizona, California, and Nevada, all along the Colorado River. The Mojave River also flows through parts of California on the reservation.
The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation was officially created in 1890. Before that, it was a military camp called Fort Mojave. The land was then given from the War Department to the Office of Indian Affairs. For many years, until the early 1930s, there was a boarding school on the reservation. Native American students, including Mohave children, were sent there. The goal of these schools was to make Native American children adopt mainstream American culture. They were often forced to speak English and practice Christianity. The land was given back to the reservation in 1935. The old school buildings have been left to fall apart, as they remind the tribe of a difficult time with the U.S. government.
Economy and Tribal Businesses
The Mohave tribe has rented out a lot of their reservation land to farming companies. These companies grow important crops like soybeans, corn, and alfalfa. Many workers on these farms are not Mohave or other Native Americans.
Since 1995, the tribe has owned and operated the Avi Resort & Casino in Nevada. In 2003, the tribe also made an agreement with California's governor. This agreement allowed them to open another casino near Needles, California. This casino is right across the Colorado River from the tribe's land in Arizona.
Keeping the Mojave Language Alive
The Mohave people are working hard to keep their language, Mojave, from disappearing. As of 2012, Arizona State University helps by holding workshops. These workshops teach both new learners and current speakers on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. There are about 22 elders on the reservation who still speak some Mojave.
The project also brings elders and younger people together. They learn traditional Mojave "bird songs" from the elders. A poet named Natalie Diaz has also worked on language preservation on the reservation. Her work was shown on the PBS NewsHour in 2012.
Location of the Reservation
The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation is located at 34°56′34″N 114°36′33″W / 34.94278°N 114.60917°W. It spans parts of three states.
Education for Reservation Youth
Children living on the California part of the reservation attend schools in the Needles Unified School District. Students in the Nevada part go to schools in the Clark County School District. For elementary school in Arizona, some parts are served by the Bullhead City Elementary School District, and others by the Mohave Valley Elementary School District. All high school students in Arizona attend schools in the Colorado River Union High School District.
Communities on the Reservation
Several communities are located partly or entirely within the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation:
- Arizona Village, Arizona (part)
- Fort Mohave, Arizona (part)
- Golden Shores, Arizona (part)
- Mesquite Creek, Arizona
- Mohave Valley, Arizona (part, with 121 residents)
- Mojave Ranch Estates, Arizona
- Needles, California (part, with 208 residents; this is where the tribal government is based)
- Willow Valley, Arizona (part)
