Pima
The Pima, also known as the Akimel O'odham, are a Native American tribe primarily located in south-central Arizona. With an estimated population of 8,561 as of 2021, they are historically linked to the Hohokam people, renowned for their advanced agricultural techniques, including extensive canal systems. During early European contact, the Pima were recognized as exceptional farmers, growing crops such as cotton, corn, and melons, and they engaged in trade with neighboring communities. The introduction of new crops and livestock by missionaries in the 17th century further developed their agricultural practices.
The Pima have navigated significant changes since coming under U.S. jurisdiction in the mid-19th century, including the establishment of a reservation system that led to the formation of their governance structures. The Gila River Pima community operates under a constitution that supports self-governance and economic development initiatives today. Despite facing challenges related to health and diet due to Western influences, efforts are underway to promote traditional foods and enhance community health. Notably, Ira Hayes, a Pima Marine, became a symbol of American patriotism as one of the flag-raisers at Iwo Jima during World War II, solidifying the tribe's connection to both Native American and U.S. military history.
Pima
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Southwest
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Piman (Uto-Aztecan)
- PRIMARY LOCATION: South-central Arizona
- POPULATION SIZE: Pima tribal grouping: 23,577 (2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates American Indian and Alaska Native Detailed Tables); Pima: 8,561 (2021 American Community Survey US Census Bureau)
Although direct evidence is inconclusive, many scholars believe that the Pima (or Akimel O'odham) are descended from the prehistoric Hohokam people of the Southwest. The Pima developed extensive canals and dams for their farmlands, and they were considered the best farmers of all Arizona Indigenous nations during early European contact in the area. The missionary Eusebio Kino, in 1687, introduced new crops, including barley and wheat, to the Pima and supplied them with cattle and sheep. A century later, in 1793, the Pima numbered about 4,000 and resided in seven villages near the Gila River. They grew cotton, corn, melons, and pumpkins and traded their spun and woven cotton cloth to the Mexicans to the south.
In the 1840s, the Maricopa Indigenous people, seeking to avoid hostilities with other Indigenous peoples, took refuge among the Pima and have remained since then. The Pima came under United States jurisdiction in 1853, when the Gadsden Purchase ended Mexican rule in the area. The United States introduced the reservation system between the late 1850s and 1870s. The Pima and Maricopa nations occupied the Gila River and Salt River reservations of 427,807 acres near Phoenix, Arizona.
The Gila River Farmers Association was organized in the 1930s to deal with federal government water issues. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 led the Pima to exercise powers of self-government. The Gila River Pima community established a council as its central governing body, which continues in the twenty-first century. They vote for a governor and lieutenant governor every three years. A constitution, adopted in 1960, dictates procedures for the election of these officers. The standing committees include committees on economic development, natural resources, government and management, health and social issues, and education.
By the second half of the twentieth century, European American influence had significantly moved life away from traditional practice for most Pima. One notable change was in diet, where Western refined foods rich in sugar and fat largely displaced traditional foods native to the southwestern desert habitat. By the 1990s, a series of studies showed that the Pima population had the United States' highest rates of non-insulin-dependent diabetes and obesity—conditions known to affect other Indigenous populations in the presence of a Western diet as well. Several programs arose to promote local, traditional foods such as mesquite and tepary beans, as well as health awareness among Pima members. The majority of Pima members continue to live and work in their reservation communities in schools, government agencies, hospitals, and stores into the twenty-first century. The Pima pursue several economic development projects through gaming, tourism, commercial real estate, and industry while also working towards environmental initiatives and cultural preservation.
Perhaps the most famous member of the Pima nation is Ira Hayes. He was a United States Marine Corps corporal who fought the Japanese during World War II. On February 2, 1945, Hayes was one of the Marines who helped raise a United States flag on Mount Suribachi on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima while the battle was still raging. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the image of the Marines as they raised the flag, which became perhaps the most iconic American photograph of the war. Hayes is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, a short distance from the United States Marine Corps Memorial. The memorial's predominant feature is a large statue of the Marines erecting the US flag on Iwo Jima, including the figure of Hayes.
Bibliography
"About - History." Gila River Indian Community, www.gilariver.org/index.php/about/history. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
"About SRPMIC - History & Culture." Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, www.srpmic-nsn.gov/history‗culture/. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
"Pima Tribe." Access Genealogy, accessgenealogy.com/arizona/pima-tribe.htm. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Robbins, Jim. "This Native American Tribe Is Taking Back Its Water." Smithsonian Magazine, Mar. 2023, www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/native-american-tribe-pima-indians-taking-back-water-180981542. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
"Tribal Government - Executive Branch." Gila River Indian Community, www.gilariver.org/index.php/government/executive-branch. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
"2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates American Indian and Alaska Native Detailed Tables: Pima Tribal Grouping." US Census Bureau, data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5YAIAN2021.B01001?q=pima%20tribal%20grouping. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Vergun, David. "Pima Indian Helped Raise American Flag on Iwo Jima During World War II." U.S. Department of Defense, 3 Nov. 2021, www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2787030/pima-indian-helped-raise-american-flag-on-iwo-jima-during-world-war-ii. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.