O'odham facts for kids

The O'odham peoples are a group of Native American people who have lived in the Sonoran Desert for a very long time. This desert covers parts of southern Arizona in the United States and northern Sonora in Mexico. The O'odham are connected by a shared language called the O'odham language.

Today, many O'odham people live in different communities. These include the Tohono Oʼodham Nation, the San Xavier Indian Reservation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community, and the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Some O'odham also live in cities and towns across Arizona.

Who are the O'odham People?

The O'odham are part of the larger Uto-Aztecan language family. This means their language is related to many other Native American languages in the western United States and Mexico. For centuries, they have adapted to life in the desert, using their knowledge of plants and animals to survive and thrive.

Different O'odham Groups

The O'odham people are made up of several important groups. Each group has its own unique way of life, even though they share a common heritage. The main groups are the Hia C-eḍ O'odham, the Tohono O'odham, and the Akimel O'odham. Their names often describe where they lived or how they lived.

The Hia C-eḍ O'odham: Sand Dune People

The Hia C-eḍ O'odham are known as the "Sand Dune People." Their traditional homeland was a vast area. It stretched between the Ajo Range, the Gila River, the Colorado River, and the Gulf of California. They were a nomadic people, meaning they moved from place to place. They did not have permanent villages. Instead, they were always on the move, following food sources. They relied almost entirely on hunting and gathering for their food. This included finding wild plants and hunting animals in the desert.

The Tohono O'odham: Desert People

The Tohono O'odham are called the "Desert People." Their homeland was the desert area south of the Gila River. Unlike the Hia C-eḍ O'odham, they had two main homes. They would live in one place during the winter and move to another for the summer. This allowed them to use different resources throughout the year. About 75% of their food came from hunting and gathering. The other 25% came from farming. They grew crops that could survive in the desert environment.

The Akimel O'odham: River People

The Akimel O'odham are known as the "River People." Their traditional lands were around the Gila River and Salt River. They lived in permanent settlements called rancherías. This means they stayed in one place all year round. The Akimel O'odham were skilled farmers. About 60% of their food came from agriculture. They used the river waters to grow crops like corn, beans, and squash. The remaining 40% of their food came from hunting and gathering. Their ability to farm near the rivers allowed them to build larger, more stable communities.