Papago Reservation Genealogy – Access Genealogy

Papago Tribe

The Papago Tribe, also known as the O’odham or ‘bean people,’ is a Piman group related to the Pima, originally inhabiting areas in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. Primarily agricultural, they cultivated crops like maize and beans using irrigation, while also relying on desert plants such as mesquite and saguaro for food. Known for their frugality and peaceable nature, the Papago faced challenges from Apache raids. Their traditional dwellings were dome-shaped huts, and by 1906, their population was recorded at nearly 5,000 in the United States.

Papago Reservation in 1890

In 1890, the Papago Reservation consisted of various land types, but only limited farming occurred due to water shortages. The tribe relied heavily on timber and wood sales for income, raising cattle and horses, and cultivating small amounts of crops. Although some Papagos attended school, education was sporadic. Their dwellings were simple adobe structures, and community morals were generally viewed positively. The Papagos, living both on and off the reservation, maintained a self-sustaining lifestyle while adapting to external influences, including their nominal Catholicism.