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O’odham Living on the San Pedro River

        Historically, the O’odham inhabited an enormous area of land in the southwest, extending South to Sonora, Mexico, north to Central Arizona (just north of Phoenix, Arizona), west to the Gulf of California, and east to the San Pedro River. This land base was known as the Papagueria and it had been home to the O’odham for thousands of years. The San Pedro River is a northward-flowing stream originating about 10 miles south of the international border south of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Within Arizona, the river flows 140 miles north through Cochise County, Pima County, Graham County, and Pinal County to its confluence with the Gila River, at Winkelman, Arizona.         

        Arizona's San Pedro Valley is a natural corridor through which generations of native peoples have traveled for more than 12,000 years, and today many tribes, including the O’odham, consider it to be part of their ancestral homeland. Prior to Colonial migration into Arizona in the 1830s, the O’odham were a semi-nomadic people, having summer and winter homes. This practice was necessary to collect enough water for the village to survive. The O’odham developed a very detailed knowledge of the land, which was important as there are several risks to life when living in the Arizona desert. The intense heat, lack of water, lack of food, and need for shelter rank among the highest. The San Pedro River provides vital water and many necessary resources.

        The San Pedro Valley is not merely a landscape of the O’odham ancestors but a symbol of change, struggle, and ultimately perseverance today. The Tohono O’odham tribe retains much of its cultural heritage despite various cultural influences according to Bernard G. Siquieros, (Tohono O’odham), “We are semi-nomadic people really. Even today people have a winter home in the mountains and a summer house. We were desert people, so we had to go where the water was.” When Bernard visited the San Pedro Valley he stated, “this feels like home, like being at home.”

Check for understanding

1. According to the text, historically what part of land did the O’odham inhabit?

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2. Using context clues, what does inhabit mean?

1. discuss
2. replenish
3. land
4. occupy

3. Prior to Colonial migration into Arizona in the 1830s, the O’odham were a semi-nomadic people, having summer and winter homes. Using context clues, what does semi-nomadic mean?

1. People who move from one place to another for short periods of time.
2. People who move from one place to another, but will often stay in a certain place for an extended period.
3. People who stay in one place for an extended period.
4. People who do not require resources and do not move from one place to another.

4. According to the text, list the risks to living in the Arizona desert.

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5. According to paragraph 3, “The San Pedro Valley is not merely a landscape of the O’odham ancestors but a symbol of change, struggle, and ultimately perseverance today.” In your own words, describe what that means.

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6. What four counties does the San Pedro River flow through in Arizona?

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7. How many miles does the San Pedro River flow in Arizona?

1. 165
2. 160
3. 145
4. 140

8. According to paragraph 2, “Arizona's San Pedro Valley is a natural corridor through which generations of native peoples have traveled for more than 12,000 years, and today many tribes, including the O’odham, consider it to be part of their ancestral homeland.” In your own words what does natural corridor mean in the context of this passage?

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