American Indian Culture and Research Journal

The narratives or stories we tell about our history shape how we act in the world. We compared how institutions in the Phoenix Metro explain their beginnings with a review of academic literature detailing the history of the Keli Akimel (Gila River) and Onk Akimel (Salt River). Using qualitative methods, we analyzed narratives from (1) institutions' beginning stories found on their websites and in publications, and (2) literature identified through Boolean searches in JSTOR, EBSCO, and American Indian Histories and Culture databases. We observed that institutions’ beginning stories often overlook Indigenous legacies and contemporary experiences, mentioning Indigenous nations only when historical events align with settler state objectives. In contrast, the literature review revealed seven moments in time that challenge the myth of Anglo settlers arriving in Arizona to Terra nullius. Our findings highlighted the tenacity and resistance of Native communities, such as the Akimel O’odham and Piipaash Nations, enabling them to thrive despite the expansion of Mexican and US settler states. Our work acknowledges historical oppression to inspire and support practices that promote dialogue and reconciliation among Indigenous nations and settlers currently residing in Arizona.