Mythologies of the Ak-Chin Tribe

42507 W. Peters and Nall Rd.
Maricopa, AZ 85138
520-568-1000

info@ak-chin.nsn.us 


The Ak-Chin Indian Community is nestled into the Santa Cruz Valley of Southern Arizona. The Community lies 35 miles south of Phoenix in the northwestern part of Pinal County. Ak-Chin is an O’odham word translated to mean “mouth of the wash” or “place where the wash loses itself in the sand or ground.” The Ak-Chin Indian Community has an enrollment of more than 1,100 tribal members and a land base of just over 22,000 acres. The Ak-Chin Indian Community was established by the U.S. Government in 1912 when President Taft signed for a reservation of 47,600 acres, which was reduced to less than 22,000 the following year. Our tribe’s government was formed in 1961 under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. In a 1984 federal settlement, we gained water rights to the Colorado River, enabling us to continue using irrigation to support our agriculture and other needs.

In Native American culture, there is a concept called “Indian time.” Some people seem to think that this means all Native Americans run late, but what it really means is “It will be done when it is meant to be done.” And when it comes to economic development in the Ak-Chin Indian Community, “when it’s meant to be done,” defines what the concept of speed to market really is. Ak-Chin has an internal process that is similar to municipalities, but it is typically much faster than neighboring communities–some which take as long as 3 years to bring a project to fruition. The Industrial Park Board acts as the development manager and one-stop tenant resource, and the Community’s own Planning & Zoning Commission reviews construction plans for environmental, cultural or technical issues. The Ak-Chin Community Council approves the Board’s and Commission’s recommendations similarly to any municipality’s City Council. In addition, the passing of the HEARTH (Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership) Act in 2012, gave tribes the ability to control their own residential and commercial leases without the approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Tribes just had to apply and be approved and Ak-Chin was one of the first tribes to do so.


The Ak-Chin Indian Community is headquartered in Maricopa, Arizona. In the mid-20th century it reorganized, creating a written constitution, by-laws, and elected government, gaining federal recognition in 1961. Prior to 2017, Tribal Council Members served three-year terms, and were elected annually on a staggered basis. The Council elected a chairman and vice-chairman. Beginning with 2017 (election in Nov. 2016), the chairman and Vice Chairman were elected at-large to serve four-year terms. The three Council Members will serve two-year terms. The November 2016 election was historic because it was the first time that Community members were able to vote directly for chairman and Vice Chairman. A change to the constitution was adopted in July 2016 allowing for candidates to run for a specific office and for Community members to vote specifically for the chairman and Vice Chairman in addition to Council Members.
















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