The Havasupai Indians, also known as the people of the blue and green waters, have lived in the Grand Canyon for hundreds of years. They rely on gathering, hunting, and agriculture and have an impressive agricultural system. Yuman is their official language, and they govern themselves through a seven-member tribal council. They were forced off most of their land by the US government in 1812, but in 1975, they fought Congress and retook much of it.
The Havasupai Indians are a Native American tribe who have lived in the Grand Canyon for hundreds of years. The tribe is also known as the Havasu ‘Baaja people, meaning the people of the blue and green waters. The Havasupai are a well-known tribe of Arizona Indians that attract thousands of tourists every year.
Most of the Havasupai Indians live in Cataract Canyon. Throughout the tribe’s history, gathering, hunting, and agriculture have been utilized for the survival of the Havasupai people. Before the Grand Canyon was listed as a National Park, their land consisted of abundant vegetation and pristine waterfalls, which allowed them to use these resources in their daily lives.
Due to their dependence on the cycles of the Earth to supply their needs, the Havasupai Indians moved during the different seasons to take advantage of living spaces safer from the elements. The Grand Canyon Plateau was used during the winter months, during which time the tribe relied on hunting for sustenance. During the summer, the tribe would reenter the canyon itself to grow their crops.
Many scientists and historians consider the tribe’s ability to maintain an agricultural system in the patchy area an impressive feat. The Havasupai Indians used a chafing system that was considered technologically advanced for its time. The tribe grew numerous crops, including sunflowers, corn, gourds, squash, beans, and cotton.
Yuman is the official language of these Native Americans. Today less than 600 people speak this dialect. It is, however, the only language spoken by Native American tribes in the United States that is used fully by its indigenous members. The language is similar to that of the Hualapai tribe.
One of the smallest Indian nations in the United States, the Havasupai Indians govern their people through a seven-member tribal council. Elections are led by a single president and are held every two years. Tribal council members elect this chairman, and the Havasupai people democratically elect council members. The tribe’s law enforcement is performed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or BIA, while Havasupai’s healthcare needs are met by the Indian Health Service clinic.
Tribal children attend school for eleven months of the year. After graduating from the eighth grade, they are usually sent to a government boarding school. Tribal women are famous for their baskets and other handicrafts, which are often sold to tourists.
Prior to 1812, the tribe occupied an area the size of Delaware; they were forced off most of their land by the United States government that year. Silver mining, railroad development, and the Grand Canyon’s listing as a National Park resulted in much of their remaining lands being destroyed. In 1975, Native Americans fought Congress and retook much of their land.
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