'há t'ámchoo 'úme: a Kwevkepaya Language Oral History of the Orme Dam

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, a federally recognized tribe in central Arizona, descends from the Yavapai people who have lived in the region for centuries. Following forced relocations and conflicts with the U.S. government in the late 19th century, the tribe secured the Fort McDowell Reservation in 1903. In the 1970s, the federal government proposed the Orme Dam, which would have flooded much of the reservation, threatening the community’s land and way of life. The tribe mounted a successful resistance, culminating in a 1981 referendum that defeated the project. The victory was one of the significant moments in Native American activism, highlighting the power of organized resistance and the importance of preserving indigenous land and culture. Today, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation thrives through economic development, including gaming, tourism, and agriculture, while actively preserving its cultural heritage and sovereignty. The Orme Dam event remains an enduring and important focal point for the community. In this talk members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Cultural Center and Museum will share with us their culture, language, and tribal history from ancient times to the present. We all also talk about a collaborative history reclamation project currently underway. Through a dialogue conducted in the Yavapai language, we will experience the unique history, insights, and narratives of the Orme Dam events from the community’s perspective – one that is lacking in the received history of the Orme Dam project.

Rafael Bear, Donald Beckman, Debbie Haynes, Clissene Lewis, Wendy Thomas 
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Museum and Cultural Center

In collaboration with:

Elizabeth Brooks, Bill Hartt, Justin Mackie, Tyler Peterson, Scott Prada, An Sakach
Arizona State University 

Lunch will be provided. 

For a full listing of all the Humanities Institute events visit https://humanitiesinstitute.asu.edu/events