DFC-AAS: May 11th – Steve Hoza
Lecture Opportunity:
It happened 158 years ago just south of Phoenix. The Battle of Pima Butte, or the Battle of Maricopa Wells, was fought on June 1, 1857 at Pima Butte, Arizona near Maricopa Wells in the Sierra Estrella. Arizona’s Greatest Battle by Steve Hoza describes the events surrounding this significant Arizona battle and details of the battle itself. Yuma, Mohave, Apache and Yavapai warriors fought the Maricopa (Piipaash) and Pima (O'Odham) at a Maricopa village named Secate in one of the largest battles in Arizona's history. This battle represented the last major battle between Native Americans in North America and the last major battle fought by the Yuman people. The Maricopa and Yuma peoples had a history of conflict and disagreement for many lifetimes before the attack on the village. The first attack on the village was successful but the attackers rested with their spoils after the initial struggle. Nearby Pima warriors joined the Maricopa warriors for a later successful counter attack. Apache, Yavapai, and some Mohave warriors left after the original attack. The Yuma and remaining Mohave warriors suffered a devastating defeat during the counter attack. The killed or wounded probably numbered near 200 for the village’s initial attackers. Today, the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community share a reservation of the east side of the general Phoenix Valley.
Steve Hoza has worked in Arizona museums for nearly 30 years. He has written two books on World War Two history in Arizona and consulted on many other publications. Steve currently works at the museum on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community as the Archivist and is working on a publication for this obscure but important Native American historic battle. Steve Hoza has lived in the Tempe or Phoenix area his entire life and graduated from Arizona State University.
Reception and socialization at 7:00 pm, program begins approximately 7:30 pm.
