Two Peoples, One Name: Understanding the O’odham

As cultural teacher Jivik Siiki puts it, the Akimel O’odham and Tohono O’odham tribes are cousins. One located in the Phoenix area, the other closer to Tucson, the two groups have shared cultural practices, language, ceremonies and much more over the millennia.

But because of the differences in the lands they lived in, there are distinctions too. The Akimel O’odham, or “river people,” had easier access to water for irrigation and could grow crops that needed more water.

The Tohono O’odham, or “desert people,” needed different ways of storing water and crops that were more hardy and needed less water.

The two tribes relied on the different plants that flourished in their environments as well. But in the end, there have always been strong ties between these groups that have worked and celebrated together for generations.

Join us as we learn about two peoples with one name and celebrate the enduring strength of Arizona’s Indigenous communities.

Each Friday we’ll be sharing a peek into the past that shows what life was like here, in what’s now Arizona, at the time of the American Revolution ahead of the semiquincentennial or 250th anniversary of the United States.

Stay tuned to learn more about “What Happened in AZ?” each week.

_{^{Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting}}.