Pima People - History Prior To 1688

History Prior To 1688

The Pima Indians first called themselves Otama until the first account of interaction with non-Native Americans was recorded. Americans later corrupted the miscommunication into Pimos, which was adapted to Pima river people. During the early part of the nineteenth century, there were eight Pima villages on the Gila River whose names were bestowed by the Spanish missionaries such as Kina, Equituni, Uturituc, and Sacaton.

The Akimel O'Odham (anthropologically known as the Pima) are a subgroup of the Upper O'odham or Upper Pima (also known as Pima Alto) whose lands were known in Spanish as Pimería Alta. These groups are culturally related. They are thought to be culturally descended from the group archaeologically known as the Hohokam. The term Hohokam is a derivative of the O'odham word "Huhugam" (pronounced hoo-hoo-gahm) which is literally translated as "those who have gone before" but meaning "the ancestors".

The Pima Alto or Upper Pima groups were subdivided on the basis of cultural, economic and linguistic differences into two main groupings:

known commonly as Pimas or River Pimas:

• Akimel O'odham (Akimel Au-Authm - "River People", oft simply called Pima, lived north of and along the Gila River, the Salt River and the Santa Cruz River in Arizona)
  • On'k Akimel O'odham (On'k Akimel Au-Authm - "Salt River People", lived and farmed along the Salt River)
  • Keli Akimel O'odham (Keli Akimel Au-Authm, oft simply Akimel O'odham - - "Gila River People", lived and farmed along the Gila River)
• Ak-Chin O'Odham (Ak-Chin Au-Authm)
• Sobaipuri (also simply called Sobas, called by the neighboring Akimel O'odham as Rsársavinâ - "spotted", lived in the valleys of the San Pedro River and Santa Cruz River, were broken up by Arivaipa and Pinaleño Apache and sought refuge among the Tohono O'odham and Akimel O'odham, with whom they became merged)

known commonly as Papagos or Desert Pimas:

• Tohono O'odham ("Desert People", the neighboring Akimel O'odham called them Pahpah Au-Authm or Ba:bawĭkoʼa - "eating tepary beans", which was pronounced Papago by the Spanish, lived in the semi-arid deserts and mountains south of Tucson, Tubac and south of the Gila River)
  • Kuitatk (kúí tátk)
  • Sikorhimat (sikol himadk)
  • Wahw Kihk (wáw kéˑkk)
  • San Pedro (wiwpul)
  • Tciaur (jiawul dáhăk)
  • Anegam (ʔáˑngam - "desert willow")
  • Imkah (ʔiˑmiga)
  • Tecolote (kolóˑdi, also cú´kud kúhūk)
• Hia C-eḍ O'odham ("Sand Dune People", also known by neighboring O'odham as Hia Tadk Ku:mdam - "Sand Root Crushers", commonly known as Sand Papagos or Sand Pimas, lived west and southwest of the Tohono O'odham in the Gran Desierto de Altar of the Sonoran Desert between the Ajo Range, the Gila River, the Colorado River and the Gulf of California south into northwestern Sonora, Mexico, were known to the Tohono O'odham as U'uva:k or U'uv Oopad, named after the Tinajas Altas Mountains)
  • Areneños Pinacateños or Pinacateños (lived in the Sierra Pinacate, called by the Hia C-eḍ O'Odham Cuk Doʼag und den Cabeza Prieta Mountains in Arizon and Sonora)
  • Areneños (lived in the Gran Desierto around the mountains, which were home to the Areneños Pinacateños)

The Akimel O'odham lived along the Gila River, Salt River, Yaqui River, and Sonora River in ranchería-style villages. The villages were set up as a loose group of houses with familial groups sharing a central ramada and kitchen area with brush round houses surrounding. The O'odham are matrilocal, and familial groups tended to consist of extended families. The Akimel O'odham also lived in temporary field houses seasonally, to tend their crops.

The O'odham language variously called Oʼodham ha-ñeʼokĭ, Oʼodham ñiʼokĭ or Oʼodham ñiok is spoken by all O'odham groups. There are certain dialectal differences, but despite these all O'odham groups can understand one another. There are also some lexicographical differences, especially in reference to newer technologies and innovations.

The economy of the Akimel O'odham was primarily dependent on subsistence, and consisted of farming, hunting and gathering, although there was extensive trading as well. Farming was dependent on an extensive irrigation system that was constructed in prehistoric times and remains in use today. Over time canal systems were built and rebuilt according to the needs of the communities. The Akimel O'odham were experts in the area of textiles and produced intricate baskets as well as woven cloth. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, their primary military rival were the Apache and Yavapai, who raided their villages at times due to competition for resources, although they also established friendly relations with the Apache. Although the Akimel O'odham did have conflicts with other groups they are thought to have been primarily a peaceable people, because they never attacked Euroamerican settlers and they were most well known for their aid to immigrants. They did, however, participate in a war cult and had a well-developed battle strategy.