The Akimel O'odham or Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona (USA) and Sonora (Mexico). For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Southern Arizona is a region of the United States. It is the southernmost portion of the 48th state Arizona. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Sonora is one of the 31 federal states of Mexico and is located in the northwest of the country The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The name means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham (meaning "desert people", formerly known as Papago), the Hia C-ed O'odham, and the Sobaipuri, a now extinct group. The Tohono O'odham, also known as the Papago, are a group of aboriginal Americans who reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of the southwest The Hia C-ed O'odham ("Sand Dune People" also known as Areneños, Sand Papagos, or Sand Pimas are a Native American peoples whose The Sobaipuri were a Piman group who occupied southern Arizona and northern Sonora (the Pimería Alta) in the 1400-1800s The name "Pima" apparently comes from a phrase that means "I don't know", used repeatedly in their initial meeting with Europeans.

Contents 1 History prior to 1539 2 History after 1539 3 Akimel O'odham and the Salt River 4 Modern life 5 Pimas of note 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading

History prior to 1539

The Akimel O'Odham (anthropologically known as the Pima) are a subgroup of the O'odham. O'odham includes the Tohono O'Odham, and the Hia C-ed O'odham. The Tohono O'odham, also known as the Papago, are a group of aboriginal Americans who reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of the southwest The Hia C-ed O'odham ("Sand Dune People" also known as Areneños, Sand Papagos, or Sand Pimas are a Native American peoples whose These groups are culturally related. They are thought to be culturally descended from the group archaeologically known as the Hohokam. Hohokam (ho-ho-KAHM The term Hohokam is a derivative of the O'odham word "Huhugam" (pronounced hoo-hoo-gahm which is literally translated as "those who have gone before" but meaning "the ancestors. "

The Akimel O'odham lived along the Gila River, Salt River, Yaqui River, and Sonora River in ranchería style villages. The Gila /'hilə/ River ( O'odham [Pima]: Gila Akimel) is a Tributary of the Colorado River, 650 Miles (1044 Kilometers The Salt River ( O'odham [Pima]: Onk Akimel) is a Tributary of the Gila River, approximately 322 km (200 mi long in central Arizona The Yaqui River ( Río Yaqui in Spanish) ( Hiak Vatwe in Yaqui) is a River in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico The Spanish word Ranchería refers to the workers' quarters of a Rancho, and has become extended into English to mean a native village The villages were set up as a loose group of houses with familial groups sharing a central ramada and kitchen area with brush round houses surrounding. The O'odham are matrilocal, and familial groups tended to consist of extended families. In Social anthropology, matrilocal residence or matrilocality (also uxorilocal residence or uxorilocality) is a term referring to the societal The Akimel O'odham also lived in temporary field houses seasonally, to tend their crops.

The O'odham language is spoken by all O'odham groups. O'odham (/ɔʔɔdham/ is an Uto-Aztecan language of southern Arizona and northern Sonora where the Tohono O'odham and Pima reside There are certain dialectal differences, but all O'odham groups can speak and understand one another despite the differences. There are also some lexicographical differences as well, especially in reference to newer technologies and innovations. The pursuit of lexicography is divided into two related disciplines Practical lexicography is the art or Craft of compiling writing and editing dictionaries

The economy of the Akimel O'odham was primarily dependent on subsistence, and consisted of farming, hunting, and gathering, although there was extensive trading as well. Farming was dependent on an extensive irrigation system that was constructed in prehistoric times and remained in use for hundreds of years. Over time canal systems were built and rebuilt according to the needs of the communities. The Akimel O'odham were experts in the area of textilery and produced intricate baskets and woven cloth. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, their primary military rival were the Apache, who raided their villages at times due to competition for resources, although they also established friendly relations with the Apache. Although the Akimel O'odham did have conflicts with other groups they are thought to have been primarily a peaceable people, who were most well known for their aid to other groups in emergencies. They did, however, participate in a war cult and had a well developed battle strategy.

It was once claimed that they built the ruined pueblos in their country, including the Casa Grande, but later historians found that they were built by a previous tribe related to the Hopi. The Pueblo people are a Native American people in the Southwestern United States. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, in Coolidge Arizona, just northeast of the city of Casa Grande, preserves a group of Hohokam structures The Hopi are Native American people who primarily live on the 12635 km² (2531 ^[1]

History after 1539

The first reported contact with Europeans was in 1539 with the Spanish missionary Marcos de Niza. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the explorer For the high school in Tempe Arizona, see Marcos de Niza High School. Later missionary visitors were Father Eusebio Kino and Father Francisco Garcés. Eusebio Francisco Kino SJ ( August 10, 1644 &ndash March 15, 1711) was a Catholic priest who became famous in what Francisco Hermenegildo Tomás Garcés ( April 12, 1738 &ndash July 18, 1781) was a Spanish Franciscan missionary who explored much of The Spanish civil authorities moved into the land and established forts, ranches, and mines. The treatment by the Spanish led to unsuccessful rebellions between 1695 and 1751. European farmers came to the Gila River in the mid 19th century, eventually limiting the Akimel O'odham to a reservation consisting of a small fraction of the more than 3. An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American Tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau 5 million acres (14,000 km²) of land they consistently and continuously used previously. Because this land was dramatically less land than could support the population, several groups migrated north to settle along the Salt River, which later became the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

Akimel O'odham and the Salt River

The Akimel O'odham (River People) have lived on the banks of the Gila River since long before European contact.

Their way of life (himdagĭ, sometimes rendered in English as Him-dak) was and is centered around the river, which is considered holy. The term Him-dag should be clarified, as it does not have a direct translation into the English language, and is not limited to reverence of the river. It encompasses a great deal because O'odham him-dag intertwines religion, morals, values, philosophy, and general world view which are all interconnected. Their world view/religious beliefs are centered around the natural world, and this is pervasive throughout their culture.

In present day times the Gila River is dry, due to diversion by non native farmers upstream during historic times. This has been a cause of great upset among all of the O'odham. The upstream diversion in combination with periods of drought, led to lengthy periods of famine which was a devastating change from the documented prosperity the people had experienced until non-native settlers engaged in more aggressive farming in areas that were traditionally used by the Akimel O'odham and Apache in Eastern Arizona. This abuse of water rights was the impetus for a nearly century long legal battle between the Gila River Indian Community and the United States Government, which was settled in favor of the Akimel O'Odham and signed into law by George W. Bush in December of 2005. As a side note,at times during the monsoon season the river runs, albeit at low levels. In the weeks after December 29, 2004, when an unexpected winter rainstorm flooded areas much further upstream (in Northern Arizona), water was released through dams on the river at rates higher than at any time since the filling of Tempe Town Lake in 1998, and was a cause for minor celebration in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Tempe Town Lake is an Artificial lake that occupies a portion of the normally Dry riverbed of the Salt River as it passes through the city of Tempe The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is comprised of two distinct Native American tribes the Pima (Akimel O'odham and the Maricopa (Piipaash The diversion of the water and the introduction of non-native diet had devastating effects on the health of the people as well. They are allies with the Papago and Maricopa. Their enemies are the Apache and Yuma.

Modern life

Currently, the majority of the population is based in the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), although in historic times a large number of Akimel O'Odham migrated north to occupy the banks of the Salt River and formed the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in Arizona, USA, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is comprised of two distinct Native American tribes the Pima (Akimel O'odham and the Maricopa (Piipaash Both tribes are confederations of two distinct cultures that include the Maricopa. The Maricopa, or Piipaash, are a Native American Ethnic group who live in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila

Today the GRIC is a sovereign tribe residing on over 550,000 acres (2,200 km²) of land in central Arizona. The community is divided into seven districts (similar to states) with individual subgovernments "council". It is self-governed by an elected Governor Mr. Bill Rhodes, Lieutenant Governor MS. Jennifer Allison Ray, and 18 member tribal council. The council is elected by district with the number of electees determined by district population. There are over 16,000 enrolled members overall.

Today the Gila River Indian Community is involved in various economic development enterprises that include three casinos, golf courses, a luxury resort, a western themed amusement park, various industrial parks, landfills, and construction supply. The GRIC is also involved in agriculture and runs its own farms and other agricultural projects.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is smaller in size and is governed by an elected President and tribal council as well. They are also invested in tribal gaming, industrial projects, landfills, and construction supply.

As was previously mentioned during the discussion of the diversion of the Gila River, the Akimel O'odham and the Onk Akimel O'odham have various environmentally based health issues that can be traced directly back to that point in time when the traditional economy was devastated. They have the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes on Earth, much more than is observed in other U. Diabetes mellitus type 2 or Type 2 Diabetes (formerly called non - Insulin -dependent Diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or adult-onset diabetes is a metabolic S. populations. While they do not have a greater risk than other tribes, the Pima people have been the subject of intensive study of diabetes, in part because they form a homogeneous group. ^[2] The general increased diabetes prevalence among Native Americans has been hypothesized as the result of the interaction of genetic predisposition (the thrifty phenotype or thrifty genotype as suggested by anthropologist Robert Ferrell in 1984^[2]) and a sudden shift in diet from traditional agricultural goods towards processed foods in the past century. It has been suggested that in poor nutritional conditions a pregnant female can modify the development of her unborn child such that it will be prepared for survival in an environment in which resources For comparison, genetically similar Pimas in Mexico have virtually no type 2 diabetes. ^[2]

Pimas of note

• Ira Hayes (1923–1955), Marine Paratrooper and Iwo Jima flagraiser

See also

• O'odham language
• Man in the Maze

References

Further reading

• Waldman, Carl. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. New York: Checkmark, 1999. ISBN 0-8160-3964-X
• Smithsonian. "Handbook of North American Indians. v. 10 Southwest. " Smithsonian Institute, Washington, 1983.
• J. William Lloyd, Aw-aw-tam Indian Nights: The Myths and Legends of the Pimas, 1911, from Sacred Texts On-Line

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