Tohono O’odham tribal territory encompasses the region around Tucson, Arizona, where the Tohono O’odham people, known as the “Desert People,” have lived for thousands of years

Tohono O’odham tribal territory encompasses the region around Tucson, Arizona, where the Tohono O’odham people, known as the “Desert People,” have lived for thousands of years. The land surrounding Sentinel Peak, known locally as “A” Mountain, is recognized as the birthplace of Tucson and was inhabited by the Hohokam—ancestors of the Tohono O’odham—for over 4,500 years. The name Tucson itself derives from the O’odham phrase Chuk Shon, meaning “at the base of the black mountain.”

The Tohono O’odham Nation’s ancestral territory spans approximately 2.8 million acres across southern Arizona and into Sonora, Mexico. Within this area, the San Xavier Reservation—the second-largest land base at 71,095 acres—is located just south of Tucson and includes the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac, a National Historic Landmark. The Nation continues to steward this land with deep cultural and spiritual significance, including sacred sites like Baboquivari Peak (Wa:w Giwulk Du’ag), considered the center of their universe.

In a landmark move in 2023, the Tucson City Council unanimously approved the transfer of 10.6 acres of city-owned land near Sentinel Peak back to the Tohono O’odham Nation, acknowledging their sovereignty and ancestral connection to the land. This gesture reflects a growing effort to recognize and restore Indigenous heritage in the region.

17GEN4.com