Indigenous Peoples of Arizona

There are many Indian tribes on reservations in the state. In addition to the Navajo—the largest tribe—important groups are the Mohave, Apache, Hopi, Paiute, Papago, Pima, Yuma, Yavapai, Hualapai, and Havasupai.

Tribes and Bands of Arizona
The following list of tribes is compiled from the Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, by Frederick Webb Hodge, and The Indian Tribes of North America , by John R. Swanton, as well as other more contemporary references.

Tribes
Apache, Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Diegueno, Gosiute, Halchidhoma, Halyikwamai, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapais, Kohuana, Maidu, Maqui, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pueblo, Paiute, Papago, Pima, Pujuni, Quahatika, Quechans, Sobaipuri, Tohono O'Odham Nation, Tonto, Ute, Walapai, Yavapai, Yuma, Zuni

Bands
Mohave-Apache, Pascua-Yaqire, Tonto-Apache, Yavapai-Apache, Yavapai-Prescott

Reservations
Reservations were established as westward expansion and settlement occurred. Tribes ceded land and were removed to restricted and reserved land. Reservation names in bold indicate current reservations.


 * Ak Chin Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Pima Agency, Tribe: Papago
 * Apache Reservation
 * Camp Verde Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Truxton Canon Agency, Tribe: Yavapai-Apache
 * Cocopah Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Fort Yuma Agency, Tribe: Yuma
 * Colorado River Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Colorado River Agency, Tribes: Mojave and Chemehuevi
 * Fort Apache Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Fort Apache Agency, Tribe: White Mountain Apache
 * Fort McDowell Reservation Federal, Under jurisdiction of Salt River Agency, Tribes: Mojave, Apache, and Yavapai
 * Fort Mojave Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Coloardo River Agency Tribe: Mojave
 * Fort Yuma Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Fort Yuma Agency, Tribe: Quechan
 * Gila Bend Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Pima Agency, Tribes: Pima-Maricopa
 * Gila River Reservation
 * Havasupai Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Truxton Canon Agency, Tribe: Havasupai
 * Hopi Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Hopi Agency, Tribe: Hopi
 * Hualapai Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Truxton Canon Agency, Tribe: Hualapai
 * Kaibab Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Southern Piaute Agendy, Tribe: Paiute
 * Maricopa and Pima Reservation
 * Mohave Reservation
 * Moqui Reservation
 * Navajo Reservation
 * Papago Reservation
 * Pascua Yaqui Reservation State, under jurisdiction of Salt River Agency
 * Payson (Tunto Apache) Reservation State, under jurisdiction of Truxton Canon Agency Tribe
 * Pima Reservation
 * Pipe Springs Reservation
 * Salt River Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Salt River Agency, Tribes: Pima-Maricopa
 * San Carlos Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of San Carlos Agency, Tribe: Apache
 * San Xavier Reservation
 * Suppai Reservation
 * Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona State, Under jurisction of Papago Agency
 * White Mountain Reservation
 * Yavapai (Prescott) Reservation Federal, under jurisdiction of Truxton Canon Agency, Tribe Yavapai

Agencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agencies were created as an administrative division of the federal government to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value were created by these offices.

The following Indian agencies have existed historically, or do exist currently in the state. A brief history of each agency and an explanation of the availability of at least some records for each are listed on the page for the agency.


 * Camp Apache Agency
 * Camp Grant Agency,
 * Camp McDowell Agency
 * Cannon Agency,
 * Chinle Agency,
 * Chiricahua Agency
 * Colorado River Agency, Rt. 1, Box 9-C, Parker, AZ 85344
 * Eastern Navajo Agency
 * Fort Apache Agency, P.O. Box 560, Whiteriver, AZ 85941
 * Fort Defiance Agency
 * Fort Mojave Agency
 * Fort Yuma Agency, P.O. Box 1591, Yuma, AZ 85364
 * Gila River (Pima) Agency, P.O. Box 8, Sacaton, AZ 85247
 * Havasupai Agency
 * Hopi Agency
 * Moqui Pueblo Agency,
 * Navajo Agency
 * Northern Navajo Agency
 * Papago Agency, P.O. Box 578, Sells, AZ 85634
 * Phoenix Agency
 * Pima Agency, P.O. Box 8, Sacaton, AZ 85247
 * Rio Verde Agency
 * Salt River Agency, Rt. 1, P.O.Box117, Scottsdale, AZ
 * San Carlos Agency, P.O. Box 209, San Carlos, AZ 85550
 * Shiprock Agency (see under New Mexico)
 * Truxton Canon Agency, Valentine, AZ 86437
 * Western Navajo Agency
 * Yuma Agency (see under Fort Yuma, above)

Indian Schools
The Office of Indian Affairs (now the Bureau of Indian Affairs) established a network of schools throughout the United States, beginning with Carlisle Indian School, established in 1879. Some of these schools were day schools, usually focusing on Indian children of a single tribe or reservation. Some were boarding schools which served Indian children from a number of tribes and reservations.

In addition, other groups such as various church denominations established schools specifically focusing on American Indian children. (read more...)

Many school records are included in the agency records.


 * Camp McDowell School (1913 changed to Salt River)
 * Camp Verde School
 * Chinle Boarding School
 * Cottonwood Day School
 * Havasupai School
 * Holbrook School
 * Hopi Agency, School records 1937 census, 1950-51 enrollment.(Family History Library film 1249787 items 1 and 2.)
 * Kaibab School
 * Navajo Extension
 * Phoenix School
 * Pima Agency, School records, 1903-1938. (Family History Library film 1249794 Items 3-4.)
 * Pinon Boarding School
 * Rice Station School
 * San Xavier School
 * Theodore Roosevelt School
 * Western Navajo School

Indian Health Agencies

 * Kayenta Sanatorium
 * Phoenix Sanatorium
 * San Xavier Sanatorium
 * Winslow Sanatorium

Other Repositories

 * Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
 * Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs, 1645 W. Jefferson, Suite 201, Phoenix, AZ 85007
 * Intertribal Council of Arizona, 124 W. Thomas Road Suite 201, Phoenix, AZ 85013

Family History Library
Histories of Arizona Indians are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under ARIZONA - MINORITIES, as well as under ARIZONA - NATIVE RACES. Other records of American Indians are listed in the Subject Search of the Family History Library Catalog under the names of the tribes. For a complete list of available records utilize the Family History Library Catalog....search by Tribe and locality


 * Records of the Arizona Superintendency (M 0734). (on eight Family History Library films starting with 1694796.)

Additional external links:
Arizona Indian Reservations and Tribal addresses -- http://www.kstrom.net/isk/maps/az/azmap.html

Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Family History Library has microfilm copies of Bureau of Indian Affairs records, such as pre-1940 census, school, and vital records, for a few agencies, including the Fort Apache, Pima, and Yuma. The original documents are at the National Archives— Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)


 * National Archives— Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)