Pima, << PEE muh, >> are an agricultural people who live along the Gila and Salt rivers in southern Arizona. Since ancient times, the Pima and their ancestors have used the water from these rivers to irrigate their fields. The Pima call themselves Akimuhli Au’ autam, which means River People.
The Pima are descended from the Hohokam, a farming people who dug long irrigation canals to bring water to their crops. The Hohokam also were wealthy traders and skilled craftworkers. After the Spaniards came to the New World, they spread Old World diseases that destroyed most Hohokam communities during the 1500’s. The Hohokam Pima National Monument includes the remains of a Hohokam settlement.
The Pima added wheat and other crops brought by Europeans to those raised by the Hohokam. The Pima were powerful warriors and organized mounted patrols to protect their farms from Apache raiders. The Pima helped many white settlers. During the California gold rush of 1849, Pima warriors shielded the gold seekers crossing their territory. The Pima also sold supplies to wagon trains, served as scouts for the U.S. Army, and guarded white farmers from attacks by other tribes. But the whites took scarce river water and used it for their own fields. The loss of water ruined many crops and drove many of the Pima into poverty.
According to the 2020 U.S. census, there are about 23,500 Pima. Many live on the Gila River and Salt River reservations near Phoenix. Many work as farmers or unskilled laborers. An elected council governs each reservation.
