Ak-Chin Indian Community hosts the 29th Annual Him-Dak Celebration set for April 4

Each spring, the Ak-Chin Indian Community commemorates the anniversary of the Him-Dak Eco-Museum, and new artifacts of the Community are released by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The 29th Annual Him-Dak Celebration will be held Saturday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to learn more about this important landmark and have a good time too! The 29th Annual Him-Dak Celebration features lots of history, memories, and good times on Saturday, April 4. Make a day of it!

In 1991, the Bureau of Indian Affairs began clearing land in the desert southwest of Maricopa when they discovered artifacts from the Ak-Chin Indian Community. These items were preserved until the Eco-Museum was built to house them.

An Eco-Museum focuses on a community’s identity and cultural heritage. According to the article, “The EcoMuseum Preserves and Teaches an Artful Way of Life,” published in Art Education magazine, the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum was the first Eco-Museum to open in the United States.

This year’s theme is “Keeping Our Ak-Chin i:mik Strong, for Future Generations.” Events include the Fun Walk and Color Run starting at the Youth Council/Enrollment Building and ending at the Museum. Walk/run registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

After the walk/run, enjoy cultural activities, including artist demonstrations and dance performances from local groups, along with artists and food vendors. It’s the once a year event where the federal government releases Ak-Chin Indian Community’s valued historical artifacts to the Him-Dak Eco-Museum to allow the preservation of them by the Community going forward. Every year this is a special commemorative event to display those artifacts in the Museum.

The Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum was established to preserve and display items from the Ak-Chin Indian Community’s history. Items are collected, analyzed, preserved, and displayed. Museum staff and volunteers also teach and share different aspects of the Ak-Chin Indian Community culture and language among different generations.

The Museum displays tribal crafts, photographs, and other goods that represent the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Community members assist in maintaining the exhibits by adding to and helping to preserve the different displays. 

The Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum is located at 47685 W Eco-Museum Road in Maricopa. For more information about the event, call the main office, 520-568-1350. 

Last Updated on 03/27/2020 by Carolyn Sostrom

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Carolyn Sostrom

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Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle.

She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*.

With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower.

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