Mojave
The Mojave, known as the Pipa Aha Macav meaning "The People By The River," are an Indigenous nation residing along the lower Colorado River since the 1100s. The name "Mojave" derives from an Indigenous term that translates to "three mountains." Traditionally, Mojave society was organized into loosely defined bands, united under a hereditary chief responsible for the community's welfare. Their primary occupation was farming, with maize as the main crop, supplemented by beans, pumpkins, and fishing. The Mojave people valued dreams highly in their spiritual beliefs, considering them vital to personal success and leadership.
Over time, however, traditional Mojave culture has diminished, particularly by the early 1970s, due to assimilation into American society and language loss. The Colorado River Reservation, established in 1865, has since become a shared space for multiple Indigenous nations, including the Mojave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo. Today, the Fort Mojave Reservation spans approximately 42,000 acres across Arizona, California, and Nevada, serving as the home for the federally recognized Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. As of the mid-2020s, around one thousand people reside on the reservation, with a diverse population that includes individuals of different Indigenous backgrounds.
Mojave
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Southwest
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Yuman
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Lower Colorado River
- POPULATION SIZE: 1,572 (2018–22 American Community Survey)
The name Mojave comes from an Indigenous word meaning “three mountains.” The Mojave self-identify as the Pipa Aha Macav, which means "The People By The River." These people have lived along the lower Colorado River since the 1100s. The early people had sprawling encampments scattered throughout the valley near cultivable land, and their mud-covered houses were above the floodplain on low rises. Most of the year, the Mojave slept under flat-topped shades (ramadas), using the houses in the winter months.
The Mojave considered themselves one nation and one territory, regardless of the location of the residence. They had loosely defined bands and local groups. Indigenous American warfare was common, and in war, they presented a united front. The hereditary chief was expected to look after the welfare of the Indigenous nation and exert a moral influence.
Farming was the principal occupation, and maize was the chief crop. Other products included beans, pumpkins, and melons. The diet was supplemented by fishing, hunting, and wild plants, especially the mesquite bean and screwbean. The men cleared the land, planted, and cultivated, while women did most of the harvesting. Soil fertility depended on the silt deposited by the annual flooding of the Colorado River.
Dreams were the most important part of the Mojave religion; it was believed that special skills, talents, and success in life depended on dreams. Ordinary dreams were considered to be omens; the few individuals who had great dreams became the leaders.
The traditional Mojave culture had mostly vanished by the early 1970s as the people became assimilated into American culture. Pride in Indigenous identity remained, but the old way of life had gone, the language was being forgotten, and much intermarriage had occurred. The last hereditary chief died in 1947.
The Colorado River Reservation was established in 1865, and Fort Mojave in 1890. In 1940, part of the reservation was taken for Parker Dam and its reservoir. As of 2024, the acreage of the reservation was about 300,000 with lands in Arizona and California. The reservation is shared by the Mojave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo nations. The Fort Mojave Reservation comprises about 42,000 acres straddling Arizona, California, and Nevada. It is home to the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, a federally recognized Indigenous nation. As of the mid-2020s, about one thousand individuals lived on the Fort Mojave Reservation, though not all of Mojave descent. The offices for the Mojave are in Needles, California.
Bibliography
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“Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.” Ten Tribes Partnership, tentribespartnership.org/tribes/fort-mojave-indian-tribe. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
“Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Community Profile.” Native American Advancement, Initiatives, and Research, naair.arizona.edu/fort-mojave-indian-tribe. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
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