advertisement
9 January 2022
Learn about the rich culture and history of Arizona’s native communities, where art and culture continue to impact the state.
Arizona was inhabited by indigenous people more than 12,000 years ago. Twenty-two American Indian communities preserve their cultures and traditions on a quarter of Arizona’s land. Visit the high country of the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the country, the forests of central Arizona, the floodplains of the Colorado River, and the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona, where American Indian communities offer guests unique cultural experiences.
advertisement
In most of the state’s scenic drives and road trips, you can experience indigenous culture. Many of the most popular cultural attractions are near stunning natural wonders and man-made landmarks, including ancient pueblo dwellings on the Navajo Nation and the Mission San Xavier del Bac on the Tohono O’odham Nation in the south.
American Indian communities host powwows, art markets, and other annual celebrations on these sacred lands, where the state’s cultural tapestry is displayed. Discover Zuni stone fetish carvings, Navajo rugs, Hopi kachina dolls, Papago basketry, and authentic artwork that preserves the traditions of each group.
To share their traditions with visitors, many tribes operate museums. For travelers interested in the Navajo Nation Museum, Hopi Cultural Center, history, art, and culture, and other cultural centers throughout the state are great choices. In addition, several internationally renowned museums preserve the heritage of the state’s tribes.
The Heard Museum in Phoenix portrays the stories of all American Indian tribes in the state and hosts the annual Indian Fair & Market and World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff displays artifacts and contemporary collections from tribes living in the high desert and Colorado Plateau, including Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Apache, Pueblo, and Havasupai. In addition, the Arizona State Museum in Tucson and the Amerind Museum in Dragoon preserve Southern Arizona’s native cultures.
Throughout Arizona, in different regions, indigenous tribes have preserved their tradition and culture and have continued to live the way they did thousands of years ago. There are a total of 22 sovereign tribes federally recognized in Arizona who continuously keep the unique American Indian heritage alive.
These tribes are:
It is important to know that while most of these federally recognized indigenous tribes welcome visitors into their communities and offer them a robust experience, some remain conservative and limit their involvement with outsiders.
advertisement
A trip to the regions in Arizona where American-Indian communities live out their tradition is a truly unique experience you can’t afford to pass up.
Here’s what you should do to get the most out of your visit:
On your next visit to Arizona, don’t let the chance to go back in time and experience the rich culture of the state firsthand pass you by.
advertisement
Thinking about exploring Arizona caves? You’re in luck if you’re a spelunker! Several cave systems in Arizona are well-known and accessible to the public, offering a mix of guided tours and self-exploration: Kartchner Caverns – Famous for its preserved formations and extensive guided tours, Kartchner is a must-see for any visitor. Learn More » Peppersauce Cave – A favorite for more adventurous explorers, Peppersauce allows visitors to experience a raw and natural cave environment. Learn More » Colossal Cave – Located near Tucson, this cave provides both standard and advanced tours for those seeking a challenge. Learn More » Grand
Across the deserts, grasslands, and pine forests of Arizona and New Mexico, native predators once prowled: jaguars, wolves, and even grizzly bears once claimed Arizona as their home. Today, most of these species are gone, victims of hunting, habitat loss, and human expansion. But what if human intervention could remedy this? advertisement Jaguars Conservationists have long debated reintroducing jaguars into their historic range. Unlike some extinct or extirpated species, jaguars have garnered public fascination and broad support, making their comeback more politically and socially viable. Reintroducing jaguars wouldn’t just be a symbolic victory; it could help restore complex ecological interactions
Buying your first home can be exciting and a little nerve-wracking. For many buyers in Phoenix, Tucson, and the surrounding areas, one common concern is termites. If you’re house hunting, especially for older homes or condos built decades ago, termites are something you’ll likely encounter one day. advertisement Termites Are Common, Not Catastrophic In Phoenix and Tucson, termites are almost a given for older wood-constructed homes. Local homeowners joke that there are only two kinds of houses here: those that have had termites and those that will have termites. While the word “infestation” can sound alarming, a detected termite presence
The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is one of the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America and a symbol of both ecological resilience and conservation success. Once nearly extinct, this small gray wolf has become the focus of one of the most closely monitored wildlife recovery efforts in the United States. advertisement A Species on the Brink By the late 1970s, only seven Mexican gray wolves remained in captivity. Their disappearance from the wild was driven by habitat loss, hunting, and predator control programs. The survival of this subspecies depended entirely on careful intervention and breeding programs.
