The O’odham tribe are a group of Native Americans who are linked to the Sonoran Desert of east Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Today, their reservation lies within less than a mile away from present day Tucson and Phoenix. The O’odham are commonly referred to as the ‘Desert People’ as this climate has historically been the tribe’s home for thousands of years. By researching their origins, culture, history of contact, and current status we can then grasp a better understanding of the Tohono O’odham tribe of the Southwest and their contributions to contemporary Native American cultures. According to Gregory Mcnamee, the O’odham creation story illustrates the reproductive powers of the universe that give birth to the Papago and the world.
