Their historical territory is in the Sonoran Desert in southern and central Arizona and northern Sonora, and they are united by a common heritage language, the Oʼodham language.
Today, many Oʼodham live in the Tohono Oʼodham Nation, the San Xavier Indian Reservation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community or off-reservation in one of the cities or towns of Arizona.
[3] Most archaeologists believe the Oʼodham to be descended from the Hohokam,[4] although some argue that one group invaded the other's territory.
There are certain dialectal differences, but they are mutually intelligible and all Oʼodham groups can understand one another.
Since the late 20th century, they have been called by their own name, or endonym: Akimel Oʼotham The other peoples are the Tohono Oʼodham or Desert Pima, enrolled in the Tohono Oʼodham Nation.