Oʼodham facts for kids
The Oʼodham are a group of Native American people. They are also known as the Upper Pima. The O'odham include several groups like the Akimel Oʼodham, the Tohono Oʼodham, and the Hia C-eḍ Oʼodham. These groups share a common language, the Oʼodham language.
Their traditional homeland is in the Sonoran Desert. This area covers parts of southern Arizona in the United States and northern Sonora in Mexico. Today, many O'odham people live in places like the Tohono Oʼodham Nation and the Gila River Indian Community. The word "Oʼodham" means "person" or "human being" in their language.
Contents
A Look at O'odham History
Ancient Ancestors: The Hohokam
Many experts believe the O'odham people are descendants of an ancient culture called the Hohokam. The Hohokam lived in the same desert region a very long time ago. They were skilled farmers who built complex irrigation canals to water their crops. Some researchers have different ideas about how the O'odham and Hohokam are connected.
Early O'odham Settlements
By the late 1600s, O'odham communities, called rancherías, were spread across the Santa Cruz River Valley. These were small villages or settlements where families lived and farmed. Some of these early places included Tubac and Tumacacori. These communities were important centers for their way of life.
The O'odham Language
The Oʼodham language is spoken by all O'odham groups. It is sometimes called Oʼodham ñeʼokĭ. Even though there are slight differences in how each group speaks, they can all understand each other. These small differences are like how people in different parts of a country might use different words for the same thing.
Different O'odham Groups
The O'odham people are made up of several distinct groups. Scholars have divided them based on their culture, economy, and language. The main groups are the Akimel O'odham, Tohono O'odham, Hia C-eḍ O'odham, and the Sobaipuri.
Akimel O'odham: River People
The Akimel Oʼodham are known as the "River People." They traditionally lived and farmed along the Gila River, the Salt River, and the Santa Cruz River in Arizona. Today, many Akimel O'odham live in communities like the Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Ak-Chin Indian Community is also part of this group.
Tohono O'odham: Desert People
The Tohono Oʼodham are called the "Desert People." They lived in the dry deserts and mountains south of what is now Tucson. Their name comes from their homeland in the desert. The Tohono Oʼodham Nation is a large reservation where many of these people live today.
Hia C-eḍ O'odham: Sand Dune People
The Hia C-eḍ Oʼodham are known as the "Sand Dune People." They lived in the very sandy areas of the Sonoran Desert, near the Gulf of California. This region is known as the Gran Desierto de Altar. They were skilled at living in this challenging environment.
Sobaipuri: A Merged Group
The Sobaipuri people originally lived in the valleys of the San Pedro River and the Upper Santa Cruz River. Over time, due to challenges and conflicts with other groups, they moved west. They eventually joined with the Tohono O'odham and Akimel O'odham communities.
How O'odham Groups Lived
The different O'odham groups had unique ways of life, adapted to their specific environments. This table shows some of their differences:
| Hia C-eḍ Oʼodham | Tohono Oʼodham | Akimel Oʼodham | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Homeland | Between the Ajo Range, the Gila River, the Colorado River and the Gulf of California | Desert south of the Gila River | Land around the Gila and Salt Rivers |
| Meaning of Name | Sand Dune People | Desert People | River People |
| Living Style | Moved often (nomadic) | Had separate homes for winter and summer | Lived in permanent villages (rancherías) |
| How They Got Food | Mostly hunting and gathering | Mostly hunting and gathering, some farming | Mostly farming, some hunting and gathering |
