The Ak-Chin Indian Community was established by the U.S. Government in 1912 when President Taft signed for a reservation of 47,600 acres, which was reduced to less than 22,000 the following year. Our tribe’s government was formed in 1961 under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. In a 1984 federal settlement, we gained water rights to the Colorado River, enabling us to continue using irrigation to support our agriculture and other needs.
Our first major enterprise was Ak-Chin Farms. Now with 15,000 productive acres, we are among the largest farming communities in the U.S. We entered the gaming industry in 1994 with Promus/Harrah’s management for a 72,000 square-foot casino.
The Ak-Chin Him Dak Eco-Museum is a first-of-its-kind living museum that includes and preserves our culture, land and heritage. The Museum hosts the Him-Dak Celebration held in April and the Native American Recognition Day Celebration in September. Him-Dak means “way of life.”
Ak-Chin is O’odham for “mouth of the wash”—the place where it recedes into the ground.
As of April 2019, the Ak-Chin Indian Community is the first to have state-certified language teachers
As Chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community, I would like to welcome you to our community and invite you and your family to visit us!
Ak-Chin is an O’odham word translated to mean “mouth of the wash” or “place where the wash loses itself in the sand or ground.” The Ak-Chin Indian Community has an enrollment of more than 1,100 tribal members and a land base of just over 22,000 acres. We were formally organized in 1961, under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
First and foremost, we are a farming community; Ak-Chin Farms was established in 1963 and currently harvests more than 15,000 acres, making us one of the largest farming communities in the United States. Cotton is the principal crop while barley, potatoes, alfalfa and corn are also grown. We are home to the Ak-Chin Him Dak Eco-Museum, the first of its kind in the country. The Him-Dak Eco-Museum is a place where objects of our past, our culture and traditions are conserved and shared.
Our local deli, Vekol Market, serves as a gas station and café that offers a variety of options made fresh daily, a wide selection of groceries, a dining area and a patio with outside seating.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, located along Highway 238, provides a welcoming ambiance with breathtaking views. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes is perfect for the golf enthusiast but also offers delicious meals at the Arroyo Grille that everyone can enjoy.
Ak-Chin Circle, entertainment for the entire family!
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino offers over 500 rooms and is newly renovated with all expansion additions completed in the Spring of 2019. Renovations included a hotel tower, conference/banquet space, expanding the gaming floor and adding restaurants. A bridge between Harrah’s Ak-Chin and the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center opened in 2018 connecting the two properties. The Multi-tainment Center offers “one-stop, non-stop entertainment” featuring theaters, bowling, dining, sports lounge, live entertainment, laser tag and arcade gaming as well as private event facilities.
On behalf of the Ak-Chin Tribal Council, we welcome you to Maricopa and we hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Robert Miguel
Chairman
Ak-Chin Indian Community
The tribe’s government was formally organized in 1961, under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The Ak-Chin Indian Community is governed by a five-member Tribal Council, each elected by enrolled community members. They oversee the governmental operations, departments and enterprises that serve the community of Ak-Chin.
The Community adopted a new constitution in July 2016. One of the changes allowed for candidates to run for a specific office and for Community members to vote specifically for the chairman and vice chairman in addition to council members. Previously, Chairman and Vice-Chairman were chosen amongst the five members of the council.
Under the new constitution, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman served a four-year term and council members served a two-year term. The 2nd election was in November of 2018, all positions are now staggered, four-year terms.
Gabriel Lopez is the current chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona. He began his term as chairman of the Tribal Council in January 2025.
Delia Carlyle is the current vice-chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona. She began her term as vice-chairman of the Tribal Council in January 2025.
Dennis Antone is a current council member of the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona.
Cecil Peters is a current council member of the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona.
Lisa Garcia is a current council member of the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona. She began her term as council member of the Tribal Council in January 2025.
