The Huhugan people built homes and irrigation canals in southwestern Arizona around 300 BC. The Pima tribe, believed to be descended from them, were farmers who lived in mud huts and were skilled at weaving baskets and using bows and arrows. They welcomed European settlers and were fierce warriors when attacked. They were forced to abandon their agricultural lifestyle in the 19th century due to lack of water, leading to a health crisis. The tribe is recognized as a sovereign nation and their main sources of income come from handicrafts, industrial projects, casinos, and mining leases.
Around 300 BC, an ancient Pueblo people known as the Huhugan migrated to the Salt River in southwestern Arizona and built homes and towns of adobe. They were farmers who built mud dams and miles of extensive irrigation canals that are still in use. The Huhugans remained in that area until the 13th or 14th century, when they suddenly disappeared. The Pima Tribe is a Native American Indian nation located in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico who are believed to be descended from the Huhugans. The language spoken by the Pima is an Aztec dialect and is still taught on the reservations.
Known for their agreeable nature, the Pima tribe were a stationary people who lived in huts built of mud-covered posts and bushes. They maintained miles of irrigation ditches along the Salt and Gila rivers and planted corn, squash, beans, and cotton. They hunted and traded and were generally at peace with their neighbors except the Apaches, their longtime rivals. The women were famous for their beautiful woven baskets and the men were famous for their skill with a bow and arrow.
The first news of European contact with the Pima dates back to Father Kino in 1694. The Indians kindly welcomed the priest, even taking him to see the remains of the ancient homes of their ancestors. Padre Kino settled with the Pimas sharing Christianity and introducing more seed crops, especially wheat. Many members of the tribe gladly embraced the new religion and Padre Kino became an important member of the community.
While the Pima tribe preferred to remain peaceful, they were fierce warriors when attacked. Unlike other tribes in the region, however, the Pima did not take scalps. They believed their enemies, especially the Apaches, were possessed by demons. As a result, they even refused to touch their enemies once they were dead.
As white settlers began moving across the country to California, the Pima tribe welcomed them into their homes, sharing hospitality and selling supplies. Some Pima men served in the US Cavalry as scouts and tribesmen went on to serve in the different branches of the US military. Ira Hayes, a Pima who joined the US Marines, was one of the men photographed raising the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
In the late 18th century, another tribe called the Maricopa was driven out in the Salt River area. The Maricopa approached the Pima asking to be able to settle nearby. The Pima tribe agreed on the condition that the Maricopa allied against the Apache. This friendship lasted through the years and Pima and Maricopa still live together with the Papago Indians on the Gila River, Salt River and Ak-Chin reservations in Arizona.
After centuries of farming, the Pima tribe was forced to abandon their agricultural lifestyle in the 19th century due to lack of water. Non-Natives living upriver illegally dammed and diverted water from the Salt and Gila rivers, leaving the reservation too dry to support vegetation. The poverty and starvation that followed the loss of their agricultural industry left the tribe dependent on government provisions rich in starch and sugar. This has created a health crisis; the Pima tribe in Arizona has the highest rate of type II diabetes in the world. After a century of court battles, some of the water was released into rivers in 2005 and now flows through reserves.
While Pima Indians are US citizens, the Pima tribe is also recognized as a sovereign nation. They are governed by an elected president and a tribal council. Their main sources of income come from handicrafts, industrial projects, casinos and mining leases. Since the return of water to the reservation, the tribe has been attempting to revive agriculture as an industry.
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