THE CHEHAWA AMERICAN
H. E. WADSWORTH, Superintendent
VOLUME 18
JUNE, 1916
NUMBER 9
YESTERDAY AND TODAY WITH MY
TRIBE
T H E P IM A I N D I A N S , B y D aniel N . Thomas
EFORE the advent of the white man in the New
U orld, there lived along the banks of the Gila River
in southwestern Arizona, an industrious, peace-lov
ing, and independent Indian tribe, called Hoho-
kain. The real name of this tribe is not known, but
the word Hohokam is a Pima Indian word, meaning
“ that which is extinct.”
How they passed away, no one knew. But while the red man in
the East was struggling against a mightier race for the maintenance of
his dominions, there came into the light of history my tribe, the Pima
Indians, who became successors to the Hohokam.
The word Pima was adopted by the Spaniards who first came in
contact with these Indians. A Spaniard on questioning an Indian re
ceived the reply “ pitnache” which means “ I do not understand.”
The Spaniard subtracted the last syllable of the word and thus origin-
ated the name of my tribe, “ Pima Indians.”
When the Declaration of American Independence was signed in 1776
the Punas saw the first glimpse of the white man’s religion in the
Franciscan fathers, but no instruction was given them concerning the
new way until another century had passed away, the Padres being de
sirous as one of them said of proceeding with circumspection.”
T he years which witnessed the Negro in slavery also witnessed my peo
ple enslaved in a world of superstition. It found them engaged in bloody
wars with neighboring tribes, mainly the Yama and Apache Indians.
Yet in spite of all these, it also found them an independent people. A
century later while the Negro was being emancipated from his bondage,
and the dreams of General Armstrong were beginning to put on reality
the Pimas saw the life-giving water of the Gila River gradually passing
out of their hands, an event that in later years was to decide their
destinv.