Him-Dak celebrates Eco-Museum, Ak-Chin Indian Community

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Spring means it’s time to celebrate the anniversary of the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum. This year’s anniversary event happens on Saturday, April 6 starting at 9 a.m. and going until 2 p.m. Don’t miss it!

Each year in April, the Ak-Chin Indian Community celebrates the Eco-Museum’s anniversary with a full day of events. The Fun Walk and Run starts at the Old Fire Station and finishes at the museum. Stick around for artisan demonstrations, dance performances, information booths and art and food vendors. Bring the whole family, including the kids! The celebration hosts fun for the little ones too, including a bounce house and face painting.

The Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum was established to preserve and display the Ak-Chin Indian Community’s historical culture. This is done by collecting, analyzing, preserving and displaying museum artifacts, and by teaching and sharing aspects of the Ak-Chin culture and language among the different generations. The museum displays tribal crafts, photographs and other goods representing the Ak-Chin Community. Community members living in the area help to maintain the exhibits by taking on the role of curator, adding to and preserving the Eco-Museum’s displays.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs began clearing land in 1991 in the desert southwest of Maricopa when they discovered artifacts from the Ak-Chin culture. 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 book, “Eco-Museums 2nd Edition: A Sense of Place,” Eco-Museums originated in France in the 1970s. There are currently about 300 Eco-Museums in the world, and approximately 200 of those are located in Europe. The article, “The Ecomuseum Preserves and Teaches an Artful Way of Life” says the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum in Maricopa was the first Eco-Museum to open in the United States. If you haven’t yet discovered the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum, come spend an enjoyable day!

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

Carolyn Sostrom

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. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.