Present-day Phoenix stands on land within the O’odham Jeved, which the Indigenous peoples of the Southwest, Akimel O’odham, have regarded as their homeland since time immemorial.
Between 450 and 1150 C.E., the Huhugam people farmed and thrived across what is now southern Arizona. At their height, between 24,000 and 50,000 Huhugam people lived throughout the Sonoran Desert. Signs of Indigenous ingenuity and culture remain all over Arizona today. In fact, Phoenix’s current canal system is based on more than 500 miles of waterways built by the Hohokam hundreds of years ago. With only stone tools, baskets and tremendous engineering skill, they carved channels which carried water for miles without pumps, and grew cotton, gourds, tobacco, corn, barley and more.
Whether you are part of the Indigenous community or not, it is vital to respectfully learn more about these incredible peoples who still shape the desert landscape we live in today. Indigenous knowledge on land conservation, art, dance, spiritual traditions and foodways make our desert city a uniquely diverse place.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Here are some spaces to patronize this month – and year-round – to learn more about Phoenix’s unique Indigenous heritage and current culture.
Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve
This self-guided quarter mile trail allows visitors to explore more than 1,500 petroglyphs visible on the area’s unique basalt boulders. Arizona State University has operated, protected and preserved this site since 1994, with a museum and gallery featuring information about the ancient peoples and landscape that inspired these astounding works of natural art. From depictions of deer to spiral shapes and line patterns, these rock drawings are mysterious reminders of human creativity throughout history, and an enduring mark of Indigenous cultures in the Southwest.
3711 W. Deer Valley Rd., Glendale, 623-582-8007, deervalley.asu.edu
Hole in the Rock at Papago Park
A natural geological formation in Papago Park, this literal hole in the rock resembles a stone eye gazing over the expanse of the Valley. Composed of bare red sandstone, which first formed an estimated 6-15 million years ago, there is evidence that the Hohokam recorded the position of sunlight shining through an eroded gap in the rock, to mark seasons, equinoxes and solstices. Today, the formation is easily reached by hiking up a short, sloping path and serves as a popular spot for sunset-watching and selfies. If you’re able to avoid the crowds, it’s also a tranquil place to sit and ponder the ancient peoples who also observed the desert from this perch.
625 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, 602-495-5458, phoenix.gov/administration/departments/parks/activities-facilities/trails/papago-park.html
The S’edav Va’aki Museum Foundation
An archaeological site and National Historic Landmark, The S’edav Va’aki Museum Foundation sits on land which was home to a thriving civilization called Huhugam by the culturally affiliated O’odham and Hohokam peoples. It features a large platform mound, multiple dwellings, ball courts, storehouses and a possible astrological observation mound. The site is also located near the headgates of several large canals, built, maintained and still used by the Hohokam. Walking among these long-abandoned structures, it’s easy to immerse oneself in the past and imagine the daily lives of its previous dwellers. The museum also regularly hosts events like gourd ornamenting and family days to further engage and immerse visitors in the cultures of Indigenous peoples of the Southwest.
4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix, 602-495-0901, svmfoundation.org
Fry Bread House
During the Long Walk in 1864, the displaced Navajo people were forced to subsist on government-provided rations including flour, sugar and lard, from which fry bread was conceived. While some Indigenous chefs view the funnel cake-like foodstuff as a persistent emblem of oppression, others maintain it is a symbol of the population’s ingenuity and perseverance. Fry bread is a primary part of powwows and other ceremonial celebrations and the main draw at this Indigenous-run, James Beard Award-winning restaurant in Phoenix. Established in 1992 by Cecelia Miller, a Tohono O’odham woman and Arizona native, Fry Bread House has since become a beloved Phoenix staple. Serving both sweet and savory fry breads and sumptuous stews, this family-owned eatery is the real deal.
4545 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, 602-351-2345, frybreadhouseaz.com
Phoenix Indian Center
The oldest American Indian nonprofit organization of its kind in the United States, Phoenix Indian Center was formed in 1947 as Native people moved to Phoenix, not only to sell their crafts but because of the U.S. government’s forced relocation policies. Over the decades, the center has evolved to provide services for employment, cultural revitalization and community engagement for Indigenous communities living in Phoenix. The center also serves as a vital cultural educator, hosting regular events available to anyone who want to respectfully learn more about Indigenous communities.These include cooking classes, cultural awareness trainings and the annual Two Spirit Pow Wow, which celebrates the trans+, non-binary and gender expansive peoples who have always been a central part of Indigenous communities.
4041 N. Central Ave., Building B, Phoenix, 602-264-6768, phxindcenter.org
Native Art Market
This Indigenous-owned and -operated year-round indoor space and seasonal outdoor market offers sensational hand-crafted works from dozens of vendors, providing Scottsdale visitors with a way to buy directly from Indigenous artists.Filling an authentic cultural gap in Old Town Scottsdale’s touristy landscape, Native Art Market also supports independent creatives who pour thousands of years of ancestral craft and beauty into their works. From handmade pottery to jewelry to sculpture, the market has supported hundreds of small Indigenous businesses over the years and is a wonderful place to ensure your purchase is directly benefitting independent creatives.
7215 E. Main St., Scottsdale, 707-733-6443, thenativeartmarket.com
Heard Museum
Since 1929, the Heard Museum in Downtown Phoenix has been a world-renowned nonprofit organization, celebrating Indigenous arts, culture and resilience through historical and current works. Current special exhibitions include collections of early basket weaving and Indigenous jewelry, while permanent exhibitions such as the sobering Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories and sculpture garden are must-sees. Heard Museum also recently unveiled a new 8,000-square-foot museum shop, a fantastic place to purchase stunning authentic art and artifacts from dozens of Arizona tribes.
2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-252-8840, heard.org
