Aw-Aw-Tam Indian Nights: Being the Myths and Legends of the Pimas of Arizona

A rare glimpse into the oral world of the Pima people, this collection gathers the ancient myths and legends that once lived only in the spoken memory of the desert’s elders. Recorded in the early 1900s by a determined traveler who partnered with a Pima teacher, the stories were faithfully rendered from the mouth of a respected seeneeyawkum— the tribe’s keeper of tradition—ensuring that the narratives remain as authentic as possible.

Listeners are taken on the author’s own journey across the scorching Arizona landscape, from bustling fairs to quiet villages along the Gila River, where the tales were first told. Along the way, vivid descriptions of the land, its people, and their daily life set the stage for the myths themselves, inviting you to hear creation stories, heroic exploits, and moral lessons that shaped Pima culture. The result is a richly textured oral history that feels both historic and alive, perfect for anyone curious about the deep roots of southwestern indigenous storytelling.