Meet the Peoples of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is comprised of two distinct Native American tribes: the Onk Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Xalychidom Piipaash (Maricopa). The center of our aboriginal territory is located in what is now called the Phoenix Valley, but our villages and farms previously occupied vast stretches of land along the Gila and Salt Rivers.
Although we derive from two distinct cultures and languages, our two tribes have been allies for many generations and share many of the same values. Even though each tribe formerly recognized its own leaders and independently managed its own day-to-day affairs, we interacted regularly. Intertribal commerce, decision-making, military action, and social interaction were common.
Our friendly alliance ultimately developed into a more formalized confederation that benefited both groups. Since that time, we have regularly acted as a single political power. Such was the case when establishing relations with the United States. Hence, we are now federally recognized as one tribe by the U.S. Federal Government.
Onk Akimel O’odham (Pima)
“Pima” is the common name applied to us, but it is not something we called ourselves prior to European arrival. In our own language, we refer to ourselves as O’odham, which means “The People”. We are part of a large O’odham population that resides in Arizona and Mexico. To be more specific, we are Akimel O’odham, which means “River People”, because unlike our desert dwelling relatives to the south, we have always resided along and depended upon the rivers that intersect our territory. To be even more precise, we are Onk Akimel O’odham, meaning “Salt River People” because that is the specific river along which we reside.
Xalychidom Piipaash (Maricopa)
“Maricopa” is the common name applied to us, but it is not something we called ourselves prior to European arrival. In our own language, we refer to ourselves as Piipaash, which means “The People”. We are part of a larger Yuman culture that extends across Arizona, Southern California, and Baja California.
Important Terms
O’odham – People (the Pima refer to themselves and their linguistic relatives as such in their own language)
Akimel O’odham – River People
Onk Akimel O’odham – Salt River People
Tohono O’odham – Desert People
Piipaash – People (the Maricopa refer to themselves as such in their own language)
Xalychidom Piipaash – Upriver People (a specific group of Maricopa who now primarily reside in the Lehi District of the SRPMIC)
Huhugam – A Pima word used in reference to their deceased ancestors
Hohokam – An archaeological term (borrowed from the Pima language) used to define a specific archaeological culture within the approximate time frame of A.D.1 – 1450
Piipaa Nykor – A Maricopa term used in reference to their ancestors (literally “people from before/long ago”)
Patayan – An archaeological term (borrowed from one of the Yuman languages) used to define a specific archaeological culture within the approximate timeframe of A.D.500 – 1550