Rebirth and Resurgence in Southern Arizona: A Political History of Hia Ced O'odham Sovereignty Since 1850

The historical record documents the presence of the Hia Ced O'odham in the northwestern reaches of the Sonoran Desert since the time of Father Eusebio Kino in the late 17th century. However, the tribe was dispersed after an 1851 yellow fever epidemic. Consequently, their place under American rule has been obfuscated by federal actions, from executive orders to tribal constitutions, which did not acknowledge the Hia Ced O'odham as a distinct nation. Once regarded as extinct, the Hia Ced O'odham have recently made gains in reasserting their cultural and political sovereignty, including a recent effort to pursue federal acknowledgment. My project examines two interrelated topics:

1. A history of the Hia Ced O'odham from yellow fever survivors to a politically organized group;
2. A critique of federal Indian law and policy, including its impact on Tohono O'odham Nation (which is home to most of the Hia Ced O'odham), and how this pertains to the U.S.-Mexico border.