Arizona Indian Reservations

Indian Community Nearby Hotel Indian Reservation Tributary Canyon

There are 21 federally recognize tribes in Arizona, where more than 250,000 Native Americans reside. The sixth largest state in the country, Arizona is comprised of 113,642 square miles, one quarter of which is home to reservations and tribal communities. Below, we’ve listed five of Arizona’s 21 federally recognized tribes. For more information and a listing of all the tribes and reservations, visit http://ag.arizona.edu/edrp/tribes.html.

Navajo Nation. Comprised of land in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, the Navajo Nation covers more than 27,000 square miles. The population is expansive as well—over 250,000 people make up the Navajo Nation, which has developed a very strong American Indian government. This was precipitated in the early 1920s when oil was discovered on the land and some type of government was needed to protect this valuable resource. For more information, visit http://www.navajo.org/. 
Hopi Indian Reservation. The Hopi Indians live in northeast Arizona and reside in villages in homes known as pueblos, which are situated on the mesa tops.  Created in 1050, the pueblo of Oraibi on the 3rd Mesa is the oldest in North America to be lived in continuously. The word Hopi has several meanings—good, peaceful or wise. For more information, visit http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/hopi.htm.   [Top]

Cocopah Indian Reservation. Located 12 miles south of Yuma on Highway 95, the Cocopah Indian Reservation was established by an Executive Order from Woodrow Wilson in 1917. In 1985, the Cocopah Land Acquisition Bill extended the area of the Reservation, which is divided into three parcels (East, West and North Cocopah). With its location adjacent to the Colorado River, agriculture plays an important factor in the community's economy.

Grand Canyon Indian Reservations. There are two Arizona Indian reservations located in the Grand Canyon-Havasupai Indian Reservation and Hualapai Indian Reservation. Both reservations lie outside the boundary and jurisdiction of the National Park Service and are administered by the tribes.  [Top]

Havasupai Indian Reservation. The Havasupai Indian Reservation is in a large tributary canyon on the south side of the Colorado River. The village of Supai has been the home of the Havasupai Indians for hundreds of years. For nearly all that time, it was very isolated and largely unknown to the outside world. Today, Supai receives up to 500 visitors per day in summer and a yearly total of 25,000. The village is accessible only by foot (an 8-mile hike) or horseback and hiking is by tribal permit only. For more information, call 928-448-2121 or 928-448-2141.

Hualapai Indian Reservation. Grand Canyon West (aka the west rim of the Grand Canyon) is managed by the Hualapai Tribe whose reservation is located on the south side of the Colorado River. Grand Canyon West is home of the Skywalk-a glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River on the very edge of the Grand Canyon-which is owned and operated by the Hualapai Nation. For more information, visit www.destinationgrandcanyon.com.  [Top]