Ak-Chin celebrate HimDak: way of life

The Ak-Chin Indian Community held their 16th annual HimDak Celebration at the HimDak Museum Saturday.

HimDak, meaning way of life, was a public celebration meant to educate community outsiders on traditional Ak-Chin culture.

The event featured a raffle, dance performances and an exhibit featuring hand made quilts at the museum.

Festival Master of Ceremonies Robert Miguel said the celebration commemorates the opening of the HimDak Museum.

“There are a lot of people moving into Maricopa that really don’t know our traditions, our cultures,” Miguel said.

He said that they encourage outsiders to come and enjoy the celebrations.

Many of the neighboring Native American communities were also invited to the celebration. They performed numerous dances, to include some they consider too sacred to allow photographs.

The raffle featured quilts that were hand made by elder members of the community, which were on display inside the museum along with painting and basket making demonstrations.

The festival that traditionally continues into the night was cancelled because of the holiday weekend.

Miguel said he hoped the HimDak Celebration would help the many new residents of Maricopa to understand their neighboring native community.

“What we want people to get out of this is this is our way of life; this is how we celebrate our way of life and our traditions that were taught to us from our elders.”