This zine is about the significance of dogs to O’Otham in the context of Hohokam archaeological evidence of dog figurines, also called “guanacos”, and dog burials. The Four Southern Tribes of Arizona (Ak-Chin Indian Community [Akimel O’Otham (river people), Hia-Che:d O’Odham (sand people), & Tohono O’Odham (desert people)], Gila River Indian Community [Akimel O’Otham & Pee Posh], Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community [Onk Akimel O’Otham (salt river people) & Piipaash], & the Tohono O’Odham Nation [Hia-Che:d O’Odham & Tohono O’Odham]), as well as the Hopi and Zuni, are culturally affiliated to the Hohokam archaeological culture. Huhugam is the O’Otham word for those who have passed; whether you pass away today or a thousand years ago, you are still the ancestors, the Huhugam. Hohokam/Huhugam material culture is what constitutes our him:dag – way of life.

I chose to cut and paste bits from archaeology articles because of knowledge I gained while working for historic preservation with my tribe. Whenever there is information presented from a tribal perspective, I personally know the people who offered knowledge about the importance of dogs to O’Otham. The figurines and dog burials mentioned in this zine have been repatriated under Arizona state burial laws (A.R.S. § 41-844 - state, county, city and municipal lands) and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The most recent repatriation under NAGPRA was February 2022.