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HualapaiOrigin of Name - Huaulapai Always occupied the pine clad mountains for about a hundred miles along the southern side of the Grand Canon in northwestern Arizona. It is from the pines they take their name, "Pinery People," for "hwal" is the Yuman word for pine, which combined with their word for people, produces Huaulapai,or, as the Spaniards spelled it "Hualapai". (Huaulapai) Location of Reservation They live on a reservation encompassing a million acres along 108 miles of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. The reservation is mostly rolling hills, rugged mesas, forests, breathtaking cliffs and deep gorges. Traditional Information Language Yuman Traditional Dress: wore full suits of deerskin and rabbit skin robes. Dwellings: The Huaulapai house was of crude design, conical with single slant forms of cedar boughs. Religion and Ceremonies The major ceremonies of the Huaulapai is "Maturity" and Mourning". Their after life beliefs is that the souls of the dead are believed to go northwestward to a beautiful land where plentiful harvest grow seen only by their spirits. Little History of Reservation An Executive Order created the reservation in 1883. Peach Springs, the Tribal Capital, 50 miles east of Kingman on Historic Highway 66, owes its name to peach trees growing at springs nearby. The railroad established a water station in the early 1880s and called it Peach Springs. Whats Going On Rapid economic, social and governmental progress More than 200 new homes have been built recently. About 14 miles of town streets have been paved and curbed. An improved community water and sewer system provides infrastructure for future growth. 300 streetlights were installed in 1999. It has community-wide anti-drug and antialcohol efforts and a yearly Sobriety Festival in June. Principal Economic Activities The tribal economy is based on tourism, river rafting, cattle ranching, hunting expeditions, and timber cutting, as well as crafting of traditional and modern folk arts. The progressive tribal government is showing off the treasures of the Hualapai half of Grand Canyon to admirers worldwide. Grand Canyon West attracts more than 7,500 guests each month. Business matters are guided by the Hualapai Enterprise Board, a committee of independent, business-minded tribal members and non-members. Principal Economic Activities Tribal, public school, state and federal governmental services provide the bulk of full-time employment. Hualapai River Running is the only Indian-owned and operated river rafting company on the Colorado River. (offers 1-2 day Indian-guided trips) Hualapai Wildlife Conservation sells big-game hunting permits for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, trophy elk, antelope and mountain lion. Hualapai Folk Arts offers a variety of other traditional and modern arts for sale. A store, gas station and deli, along Historic Route 66,serve tribal and travelers' needs. Scenic Attraction Peach Springs Canyon offers the only road into the Grand Canyon: Diamond Creek Road. The tribe maintains the road allowing conditional access by car or truck and issues sightseeing permits. Historic Route 66, America's Mother Road, goes through the center of Peach Springs. Grand Canyon Caverns, just east of Peach Springs, offers guided tours through chambers 21 stories underground. Food and lodging are available. Taxes The State of Arizona does not tax Indian lands and Indian-owned property on reservations. Incomes of Indians residing on reservations are not taxed by the State if wholly derived from reservation sources. The Federal Government does not exempt individual Indians from income or other federal taxes. Indian people of Arizona are also exempt from state and local sales taxes on consumer goods purchased on the reservation, unless such taxes are imposed by the tribal government. However, the State of Arizona collects taxes from reservation residents on sales of gasoline, electricity, natural gas, and telephone service. Community Facilities The Hualapai Indian Reservation offers limited community facilities including a general store, a service station, a senior citizens center, a gift shop, a hunting lodge, a newly renovated gymnasium, a community center, a rodeo arena, ball fields, dialysis unit and emergency fire station. A 60-room motel, built in 1997, includes a restaurant and gift shop. A family training center is presently being built. Governmental The community is governed by the Hualapai Tribal Council including a chairperson, vice-chairperson and seven other council members. Fire protection is provided by the BIA and the local volunteer fire department. Law enforcement is provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Hualapai Tribe is in the process of hiring four tribal police officers Communication In addition to communication resources from the rest of the state, the community has a bi-weekly tribal newspaper, Gamyu, radio stations from Kingman and Las Vegas, and cable television channels from Phoenix and Las Vegas. The 26-channel cable is provided by Cablevision. Educational Peach Springs School (grades K through 12) has a student body of 285 and is served by an 18-member faculty. A Head Start Program in its own building is also provided. A high school is completed and in operation since 1999. Medical The United States Public Health Service operates a clinic at Peach Springs. The staff includes two medical doctors, two registered nurses and one public health nurse; dental care is also provided. The Hualapai Tribe provides emergency and ambulance service. Full care medical facilities are available in nearby Kingman. Financial Complete banking services are provided by Arizona's major financial institutions in Kingman. For information about state financial programs, contact the Finance Division of the Arizona Department of Commerce, (602) 280-1300. Average Temperature (0F) Month Daily Max Daily Min Precipitation (Inches) January 50.5 20.6 0.87 February 1.01 March 1.07 April 69.5 31.6 0.62 May 0.29 June 0.24 July 90.8 54.7 1.48 August 1.87 September 1.05 October 73.5 36.1 0.64 November 0.73 December 0.97 Year 71.07 35.7 10.84 Hualapai War The war broke out in April of 1865 when Pai leader Anasa was murdered by drunken settlers in the area. They cut off the route from Prescott to the Colorado River ports. It was not until W.H. Hardy negotiated a peace agreement at Beale Springs did the raids and the fighting subside. However, the agreement lasted only nine months. It was broken when Chief Wauba Yuma was murdered after a dispute with the Walker party over the treaty. Raids by the Pai Indians began in full force, raiding white mining camps and settlers. The Calvary from Fort Mojave responded by attacking Pai rancherias and burning them. The Army also used the Mojave Indians against the Pai. A notable Pai warrior was Sherum, he was known for his tenacity as a warrior. This war lasted until December 1868. The Pai began to surrender as a result of whooping cough and dystentry weakening their ranks, they were led by Under Chief Leve Leve of the Yavapai peoples. The warrior Sherum also later surrendered thus ending the Hualapai Wars.
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