NMAI Tohono O’odham Inaugural Exhibit

Himdag Ki Services

The Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center & Museum was conceived and constructed for the members of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Himdag Ki: welcomes visitors who respect the Nation and its people and who wish to gain a better understanding of O’odham “himdag,” that is, the O’odham way of life that includes respect for oneself, for others, for elders and for the land; sharing and helping family, neighbors and the community; humility; and industriousness.

Some of the cultural programs and services have been developed for members of the Nation only and we ask visitors to be sensitive to the wishes of the community if programs do not permit non-members to participate. Programs and services are added as resources permit.

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Tohono O'odham National Museum Mon : 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Current Community Programs and Services are listed below. Please check the COMMUNITY CALENDAR for a schedule of program dates and time. All application forms, policies, procedures, and other information about Himdag Ki: programs and services can be downloaded in either PDF or Word format.
  • Veterans Honor Roll

    Veterans are given special recognition and veterans and family members are encouraged to share their experiences by lending items for display, and photographs and audio-visual items for the database.

  • Quitovac Project

    Escuela Albergue Tribu Papago, Quitovac, Sonora, México. One of the major events led by the Himdag Ki: staff is the Angel Tree Project.

  • Facilities Use

    The museum facilities can be scheduled for meetings, receptions, celebrations, dinners, and similar activities by members of the community, governmental agencies, educational and religious organizations, and others. Community artists may also apply to use studio and classroom facilities.

  • Collections Stewardship

    The Himdag Ki: Collections staff helps members of the Tohono O’odham Nation preserve their artifact and archival heritage. Physical objects, photographs, and other personal items of cultural patrimony can be deposited in the museum for long-term care. These items remain the property of the members and can be removed and redeposited at any time. The Himdag Ki: staff offers members of the Nation a number of workshops to help care for their artifacts and photographic and copying services to document their history.

  • Volunteers

    Himdag Ki: welcomes members of the community who would like to volunteer to help the staff in caring for the exterior exhibits, for example, adopting a portion of the nature trail, working in the gardens, helping to build and repair fences, houses, and ramadas. Volunteers are also encouraged to help the curators develop, participate, or lead various educational, collections, and exhibition activities, and especially for helping with large-scale events.