Indigenous Peoples of Arizona

United States Arizona  American Indian Genealogy  Indians of Arizona

Learn about the Indians of Arizona, list and links to the Federally recognized tribe, historical tribes, the reservations and agencies, Indian school records and repositories for record availability.

To get started in American Indian Research

Click here for a map of [[Media:National%2BAtlas%2BMap%2Bof%2BArizona.pdf|Federal Lands and Indian Reservations]]

Arizona has 21 federally recognized tribes. Some sources count the Pueblo of Zuni as an Arizona tribe. However, the Pueblo of Zuni lands are primarily in New Mexico, with only a small portion in Arizona. If the Pueblo of Zuni is included there would be 22 tribes.

The state is home to over 294,000 Native Americans. To learn how to get started with American Indian research, find research facilities, and American Indian websites click here.

Current Federally Recognized Tribes
A federally recognized tribe is an American Indian or Alaska Native tribal entity that is recognized as having a government-to-government relationship with the United States, with the responsibilities, powers, limitations, and obligations attached to that designation, and is eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The following is a list of the currently federally recognized tribes in the State of Arizona:. The list links go to the pages for the tribe as opposed to reservation links shown below.

Ak-Chin Indian Community, Arizona (Tribe) Yavapai-Apache Nation, Arizona (Tribe) Navajo Nation, Arizona (Tribe) Cocopah Indian Reservation, Arizona (Tribe) Colorado River Indian Tribes, Arizona (Tribe) White Mountain Apache Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona (Tribe) Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Gila River Indian Community, Arizona (Tribe) Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona (Tribe) Hopi Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Hualapai Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Kaibab-Paiute Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona (Tribe) San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona (Tribe) Tohono O’odham Nation, Arizona (Tribe) Tonto Apache Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe, Arizona (Tribe) San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Arizona (Tribe)

Some Historical Tribes and Bands of Arizona
The following list of American Indians who have lived in Arizona has been compiled from older sources, such as Hodge's Handbook of American Indians... and from Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America. Some may simply be variant spellings for the same tribe. As you can see from the following list, some of the historical names of the tribes have changed and some are no longer in common usage: See also Arizona Indian Tribes


 * Apache

The individual Apache Tribes have the following websites"

Nnee-San Carlos Apache Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Mescalero Nation White Mountain Apache Tribe Chiricahua Apache Nde Nation Jicarilla Apache Nation Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe Yavapai-Apache Nation Tonto Apache Tribe

The following websites contain information on the named individual tribes


 * Cocopah
 * Halchidhoma
 * Halyikwamai
 * Havasupai
 * Hopi
 * Hualipai (Walapai)
 * Kohuana
 * Maricopa
 * Mohave
 * Navajo
 * Pueblo
 * Paiute
 * Papago
 * Pima
 * Quahatika
 * Sobaipuri
 * Yuma
 * Zuni

The following websites contain information on those groups defined as "bands" in the older sources:


 * Mohave-Apache
 * Pascua-Yaqui
 * Tonto-Apache
 * Yavapai-Apache
 * Yavapai-Prescott

Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino was said to have visited the following tribes in the area now called Arizona:

The tribes Father Kino met with are the Cocopa, Eudeve, Hia C-ed O'odham (called Yumans by Kino), Kamia, Kavelchadon, Kiliwa, Maricopa, Mountain Pima, Opata, Quechan, Gila River Pima, Seri, Tohono O'odham, Sobaipuri, Western Apache, Yavapai, and the Yaqui (Yoeme).

About Reservations
There is a clear distinction between the Indian Tribes and the Indian Reservation System. A federal Indian reservation is an area of land reserved for a tribe or tribes under treaty or other agreement with the United States, executive order, or federal statute or administrative action as permanent tribal homelands, and where the federal government holds title to the land in trust on behalf of the tribe.

From the mid-1800s, the official policy of the United States government toward the American Indian was to confine each tribe to a specific parcel of land called a reservation. Agencies were established on or near each reservation. A government representative, usually called an agent (or superintendent) was assigned to each agency. Their duties included maintaining the peace, making payments to the Native Americans based on the stipulations of the treaties with each tribe, and providing a means of communication between the native population and the federal government.

Sometimes, a single agency had jurisdiction over more than one reservation. And sometimes, if the tribal population and land area required it, an agency may have included sub-agencies.

The boundaries of reservations, over time, have changed. Usually, that means the reservations have been reduced in size. Sometimes, especially during the later policy of "termination," the official status of reservations was ended altogether. Compiling a list of reservations is difficult because several reservations extend into more than one state.

The State of Arizona does not tax Indian lands and Indian owned property on reservations. Incomes of Indians residing on reservations are not taxed by the State if wholly derived from reservation sources. The Federal Government does not exempt individual Indians from income or other federal taxes. Indian people of Arizona are also exempt from state and local sales taxes on consumer goods purchased on the reservation, unless such taxes are imposed by the tribal government. However, the State of Arizona collects taxes from reservation residents on sales of gasoline, electricity, natural gas, and telephone service.

Reservation Map - Arizona - Indian Reservations- Federal Lands and Indian Reservations. by the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.

Arizona Tribal Lands and Reservations. EPA. United States Enviromental Protection Agency

Arizona's Indian Reservations Map. by Arizona Geographic Alliance

Arizona's Native American Tribesby Economic Development Research Program, The University of Arizona.

BIA Reservation map Wester Region: Arizona, Nevada and Utah

Current List of Reservations:

 * Ak-Chin Indian Community, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Yavapai-Apache Nation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Navajo Nation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Cocopah Indian Reservation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Colorado River Indian Tribes, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Fort Apache Indian Reservation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Gila River Indian Community, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Hopi Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Hualapai Tribal Nation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Kaibab-Paiute Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Papago Reservation, Arizona
 * Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona (Reservation)
 * San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Tohono O'odham Nation, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Tonto Apache Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)
 * San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Arizona (Reservation)

Agencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * Vital records

The following list of agencies that have operated or now exist in Arizona has been compiled from Hill's Office of Indian Affairs..., Hill's Guide to Records in the National Archives Relating to American Indians , and others.

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
 * Camp Verde 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
 * Kaibab Agency
 * Moqui Pueblo Agency,
 * Navajo Agency
 * Navajo Service
 * 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
 * San Xavier Agency
 * Sells Agency
 * Shiprock Agency (see under New Mexico)
 * Southern Navajo Agency
 * Truxton Canon Agency, Valentine, AZ 86437
 * Tuba City Agency
 * Tucson Agency
 * Western Navajo Agency
 * Window Rock Area Office
 * Yuma Agency (see under Fort Yuma, above)

Allotment Records
The General Allotment Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1887, marking the establishment of the allotment of land to individuals as the official and widespread policy of the federal government toward the Native Americans. Under this policy, land (formerly land held by the tribe or tribal land) was allotted to individuals to be held in trust until they had shown competency to handle their own affairs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was the trustee.

Individual American Indians were given a prescribed amount of land on a reservation based upon what land was available and the number of tribal members living on that reservation. Generally, the amount of land allotted was 160 Acres for each head of family, 80 Acres for each single person over eighteen years of age, 80 Acres for each orphan child under eighteen years of age, and 40 Acres for each single person under eighteen years of age. This was dependent upon there being sufficient land available on the existing reservation. If the total acreage on the reservation was insufficient, the amounts of land were pro-rated accordingly.

Not all tribes and reservations were allotted.

Allotted Tribes of Arizona


 * Camp Verde, Yavapai-Apache Reservation, Colorado River Reservation, Gila River Reservation, Salt River Reservation, San Carlos Reservation, Tohono O’odham Reservation (Papago)

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...)

The following list of Indian Schools in Washington has been compiled from Hill's Office of Indian Affairs..., Hill's Guide to Records in the National Archives Relating to American Indians , and others.

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 1968-1989 under the Chinle Subagency (records National Archives at Riverside)
 * Fort Yuma Boarding School
 * Havasupai School
 * Holbrook School
 * Hopi Agency, School records 1937 census, 1950-51 enrollment.(Family History Library .)
 * Kaibab School
 * Navajo Extension
 * Navajo training School 1895-1922 under the Navajo Agency (National Archives at Riverside)
 * Phoenix School 1891-1990 (National Archives at Riverside)
 * Pima Agency, School records, 1903-1938. (Family History Library .)
 * Pinon Boarding School
 * Rice Station School
 * San Xavier School
 * Theodore Roosevelt School 1927-1939 under the Fort Apache Indian Agency (National Archives at Riverside)
 * 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

Labriola National American Indian Data Center

 * The Labriola National American Indian Data Center is a research collection with current and historic information on government, culture, religion and world view, social life and customs, tribal history, and information on individuals from the United States, Canada, Sonora, and Chihuahua, Mexico.


 * The Labriola Center is located on the second floor of Hayden Library on the Arizona State University Tempe campus.

Northern Arizona University, Cline Library, Special Collections

 * The Cline Library may have the largest collection of material on Indians of northern Arizona. Check the library catalog at Cline Library Home.

The Doris Duke American Indian Oral History Project
From 1966 to 1972, several universities conducted oral history interviews with Native Americans. The project was funded by Doris Duke, heiress of the Duke tobacco family. The University of Oklahoma was one of the universities that participated in the project. Transcripts] of those interviews are online through the University of Oklahoma in Norman. See American Indian Oral Histories

Maps

 * Map of Indian Lands: Region 9 -- Reservations, Rancherias, Colonies... EPA map, Feb. 2000

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


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

Links:

 * Arizona Indian Reservations and Tribal addresses
 * Northern Arizona University, Center for American Indian Economic Development
 * The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
 * Community and Regional Profiles
 * Wick R. Miller Papers

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)