Native American Culture

Tucson’s story begins—and continues—with its Indigenous peoples.

The earliest known inhabitants, the Hohokam, engineered extensive irrigation canals and built thriving villages along the Santa Cruz River between 300 and 1,500 AD, making Tucson the oldest continuously inhabited region in North America. Their descendants, the Tohono Oʼodham, or “Desert People,” continue to live throughout southern Arizona and northern Sonora, maintaining a spiritual and cultural connection to their ancestral lands. The very name Tucson comes from the Oʼodham phrase Chuk Shon, meaning “at the base of the black mountain,” referring to what we now call Sentinel Peak or “A” Mountain.

Also part of Tucson’s living Indigenous community are the Pascua Yaqui, whose ancestors originated in the Río Yaqui Valley of Sonora, Mexico. The Yaqui people have long moved across this region, bringing with them rich traditions, vibrant ceremonies, and a strong sense of cultural identity that continues to flourish in Tucson today. Together, the Hohokam, Tohono Oʼodham, and Pascua Yaqui form the foundation of this region’s story—one that is alive, evolving, and deeply woven into the fabric of Tucson’s present.

A large part of Tucson’s culture lies within the area's deep-rooted Native American history. Indigenous peoples have played a significant role in shaping the history and culture of Tucson, and continue to have a strong presence in the region today. Tucson received the City of Gastronomy distinction from UNESCO, because the food, especially heritage ingredients, grown and harvested by the Indigenous peoples of our region tells the story of early agriculture that dates back at least 4,000 years.