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The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) represents a vibrant Native American community located in south-central Arizona, approximately 34 miles south of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. The community is home to two distinct tribal nations: the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Pee Posh (Maricopa), who share a rich cultural heritage and a deep connection to the Gila River that flows through their lands.
Established as Arizona’s first reservation by an act of Congress in 1859 and formally established as the Gila River Indian Community by Congress in 1939, the reservation encompasses approximately 372,000 acres (about 640 square miles) of land that spans portions of both Maricopa and Pinal counties. This location places the community at a strategic position between metropolitan Phoenix to the north and more rural areas to the south.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey, approximately 12,179 individuals live on the Gila River Indian Reservation, though the total enrolled membership of the community is closer to 21,300. The community’s landscape includes diverse wildlife habitats ranging from wetlands at 900 feet elevation to conifer shrub communities at 4,000 feet.
The Gila River Indian Community traces its ancestral roots to the ancient Hohokam people (also called Huhugam), who developed sophisticated agricultural systems and extensive canal networks in the region dating back more than 2,000 years. Today, the community maintains its connection to these agricultural traditions while embracing contemporary economic, social, and cultural development initiatives that honor their heritage and secure their future.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Traditional Names | Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee-Posh (Maricopa) |
| Location | South-central Arizona, south of Phoenix metropolitan area |
| Reservation Size | Approximately 372,000 acres (583 square miles) |
| Districts | Seven community districts: Blackwater, Sacate, Sacaton, Santan, Komatke, Gila Crossing, Co-op Colony |
| Population | Approximately 23,000 enrolled members |
| Languages | O’odham (Pima), Maricopa, English |
| Federal Recognition | Established by Executive Order in 1859; one of the oldest reservations in Arizona |
| Traditional Territory | Gila River and Salt River basins – historically much larger than current reservation |
| Traditional Livelihood | Sophisticated irrigation farmers (Huhugam/Hohokam descendants) |
| Agricultural Heritage | Known as “People of the River” with 2,000+ year agricultural history |
| Historical Impact | Supplied food to miners during 1800s gold rush; fed Union Army during Civil War |
| Water Issues | Historic diversion of Gila River waters upstream led to tribal hardship; won major water rights settlement in 2004 |
| Government | 17-member Community Council with elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor |
| Major Enterprises | Gila River Hotels & Casinos (3 locations), Gila River Sand & Gravel, Community-owned farms |
| Cultural Assets | Huhugam Heritage Center, Casa Grande Ruins (nearby), Him Dak Eco-Museum |
| Education | Gila Crossing Community School, Blackwater Community School, tribal scholarships |
| Healthcare | Gila River Health Care system with three facilities |
| Sports Connections | Major sponsorship deal with Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and Phoenix Suns (NBA) |
| Special Events | Mul-Chu-Tha Fair & Rodeo (annual), traditional ceremonies, powwows |
| Environmental Initiatives | Gila River restoration, wildlife conservation, native plant preservation |
| Notable Members | Ira Hayes (WWII Iwo Jima flag raiser), Mary Thomas (former governor), Rod Lewis (tribal attorney) |
The Gila River Indian Community represents one of Arizona’s largest and most influential tribal nations. The community combines two distinct tribal groups: the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Pee-Posh (Maricopa), who joined together historically for mutual protection and have maintained their alliance into the present. What makes their story particularly significant is their extraordinary agricultural heritage as descendants of the Hohokam civilization, whose complex canal systems allowed farming in the desert for thousands of years. The diversion of their water in the late 19th and early 20th centuries created decades of hardship, but their successful water rights settlement and subsequent economic development have created a remarkable revitalization of community prosperity and cultural preservation.
The history of the Gila River Indian Community extends thousands of years into the past, with archaeological evidence of continuous habitation in the region dating back approximately 6,000 years. Around 300 BCE, peoples from central Mexico arrived in the area, bringing new technologies and cultural practices that merged with those of existing inhabitants.
From this cultural fusion emerged the Huhugam people, ancestors of today’s Akimel O’odham, who developed remarkable agricultural and engineering capabilities. The Huhugam constructed an elaborate irrigation system spanning approximately 500 miles of large canals (averaging 10 feet deep and 30 feet wide) connected to smaller ditches, allowing them to transform the desert into productive farmland. They cultivated cotton for textiles as well as corn, melons, beans, fruits, tobacco, and other food crops, establishing a thriving agricultural society in what is now central Arizona.
In the 1840s (though some sources suggest this occurred as early as the mid-1700s), the Akimel O’odham offered refuge to the Maricopa tribe, known as the Pee Posh, who had migrated eastward from the lower Colorado River area due to conflicts with other Yuman tribes. This alliance forged a lasting relationship between the two tribal groups, who continue to share the Gila River lands to this day.
The arrival of European and American settlers significantly impacted the community. In 1854, the Gadsden Purchase made southern Arizona part of the United States Territory. Recognizing the important role the Akimel O’odham played in America’s westward expansion, in 1859 Congress established the first reservation in Arizona, encompassing 372,000 acres along the Gila River. During this period, the tribes maintained their agricultural productivity – in 1862 alone, they grew more than one million pounds of wheat, most of which they sold to settlers and the U.S. military.
However, the late 19th century brought devastating changes when upstream diversions and dams constructed by non-Native farmers cut off the community’s access to Gila River water between the 1870s and 1880s. Without water for irrigation, the tribes’ farming practices were largely wiped out, leading to a period of mass famine and starvation from approximately 1880 to 1920. The federal government’s response – providing canned and processed foods – contributed to severe health consequences, including high rates of obesity and diabetes that continue to affect the community today.
The 1930s marked the beginning of a recovery period when the U.S. government completed Coolidge Dam on the upper Gila River, creating the San Carlos Reservoir. The project included infrastructure to deliver some water to the reservation, partially restoring farming practices. Economic opportunities gradually improved as community members found work off-reservation following World Wars I and II, and small businesses began to develop on tribal lands.
In 1939, the Gila River Indian Community was formally established by Congress, and in 1960, the tribe ratified its Constitution and Bylaws. Since then, the community has worked to rebuild its economic base, restore its access to water resources, and preserve its cultural heritage while navigating the complexities of the modern world.
A major milestone came in 2004 with the passage of the Gila River Indian Community Water Settlement Act, which resolved long-standing water rights disputes and provided the tribe with water allocation security to support agricultural and economic development. This settlement represented the culmination of nearly a century of litigation and legal maneuvering to restore the community’s rights to the water resources that had historically sustained their way of life.
The Gila River Indian Community operates under a governmental structure established by its Constitution and Bylaws, which were ratified by the tribe on January 22, 1960, and approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior on March 17, 1960. The current Gila River legal code was enacted in 2009, with subsequent amendments enacted on May 15, 2013.
The community’s government is divided into three branches. The Executive Branch is led by a Governor and Lieutenant Governor, each elected for three-year terms. These positions provide leadership and administrative oversight for the community’s departments and initiatives. The Legislative Branch consists of a 17-member Tribal Council with representatives from seven districts across the reservation. Council members serve three-year staggered terms, with elections held yearly. The Council meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month to address tribal matters and policy decisions. The Judicial Branch maintains tribal courts and oversees the administration of justice within the community.
The reservation is organized into seven districts, each with its own distinct character and history. These districts include:
Each district has specific environmental, cultural, and economic characteristics that contribute to the community’s diversity. For example, District 3 (Sacaton) serves as the administrative hub where most government buildings are located, while District 5 (Casa Blanca) has historically been the center of agricultural production for the Pima and Maricopa tribes.