Gi’iko Ce:mo’oidag: A proposal for urban-agrarian development in the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona

Abstract

The urban fabric of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (PMA) is becoming inhospitable. Contributing factors are: low population density, dependence on automobiles and air conditioning, Urban Heat Island effect, uncertain water supply, lack of sustainable policies, and low community connectivity. Failing to adapt could spell the end of the PMA’s life cycle. This paper highlights the Indigenous Akimel O’Otham as key agents of sustainable change in this region, on account of their espousal of sustainable values; and their water rights reclamation allocating resources for agricultural development, of which the tribe has already undertaken the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project (P-MIP). The design presented offers a possible avenue for the tribe to complement P-MIP’s ambitions with urban-agrarian development, diversifying the uses of their water supply. The proposal is accompanied by a speculative financial plan to ensure their independence from external investment. This could contribute to fostering urban change and promoting a more resilient future.