The Mojave Maiden

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I know you have heard the saying, “it’s a small world”, and have been in a situation where those four little words have proven to be true.  This just happened to me on my trip to Tubac at the end of March.  My sister-in-law, Debra, and I were staying at the Poston House Inn enjoying our breakfast.  We started talking to an elderly couple and their daughter who also decided to take a trip to Tubac the same weekend.  We began the conversation by talking with them about turquoise because we were all wearing at least one piece.  The man knew every little thing about the mineral from the type to where they were mined.  The entire time while chatting with them, I kept thinking that their daughter looked so familiar.  I found out later why.

I was telling them about my Arizona travel book and offered them a copy.  When I brought it back, and after seeing my name, their daughter asked if I worked at SRP many years ago.  Bazinga!  Over 30 years ago, I worked for SRP (Salt River Project) in the mapping department.  Rejeanna worked there with me.  We remembered many of the same people.  Our conversation about working together, turned into another interesting story about her parents, John and Angelina.

Rejeanna’s mother, Angelina is Native American and part of the Mojave tribe.  She is actually the last of her tribe and granddaughter of the chief.  She is a Mojave maiden and from one of the Colorado River tribes.  The Colorado River Indian Reservation is located in parts of California and Arizona with mutual associates such as the Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo peoples.  The Mojave or Mohave people are native to the Colorado River in the Mojave Desert.  What a fascinating family we met.

For more information and history of the Mojave people, check out these sites:

http://native-american-indian-facts.com/California-American-Indian-Facts/Mojave-Indian-Tribe-Facts.shtml

http://www.mojaveindian.com/history_001.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohave_people

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