Tohono O’odham, North American Indians who traditionally inhabited the desert regions of present-day Arizona, U.S., and northern Sonora, Mex. The Tohono O’odham speak a Uto-Aztecan language, a dialectal variant of Piman, and culturally they are similar to the Pima living to the north.

The Tohono O’odham have lived in the region for thousands of years, and have a rich cultural heritage that includes traditional ecological knowledge, agriculture, and art. They have a matrilineal kinship system, and their society is organized into small, autonomous villages.

The Tohono O'odham have lived in the region for thousands of years, and have a rich cultural history that is deeply rooted in the land. “Our origins are linked to our homeland, the Sonoran Desert.” The Tohono O'odham are known for their traditional farming practices, which include growing crops such as beans, corn, melons, and squash.

The O’odham people have lived in the Sonoran Desert since time immemorial. They are descendants of the ancient Hohokom people and have thrived despite the harsh desert climate. Using the Santa Cruz River and the yearly downpours from the monsoons, the Akimel (River) O’odham carved out elaborate acequias, or canals, and basins to water crops.

Some historians believe the Tohono O’odham are descendants of the oldest known Native American culture of the area: the Hohokam, whose culture faded about 1450. The Spanish grouped the Tohono O’odham with the Pima, but they were very different people. The Tohono O’odham were bitter enemies of the Apache.