Somerton, AZ (KYMA/KECY) – The Kokopa Indian Tribal Museum is another treasure in the southwestern desert.

For centuries, the people of Kokopa have maintained their traditional and cultural beliefs through its charming landscape.

Kokopa, or River People, have lived in the Lower Colorado River and Delta region for thousands of years.

All the resources they needed to survive were hunting food and making clothes from the river’s natural resources.

Now Cocopa is laying a better foundation for future generations.

Joe Rodriquez III is the Museum Director and Cultural Program Coordinator.

“We want to make sure it stays alive,” Rodriquez said. When it comes to culture and its presentation and positioning in the field, we are very careful not to fail. ”

The Kokopa Indian Tribal Museum has been in operation since 1995.

An expansion is needed to properly showcase the artifacts the museum has collected over the years.

“With the expansion, we’re seeing a rotation of different aspects of the tribe. Probably music, sports, farming, housing, etc., a rotation with a lot of items already ready,” Rodriquez said. .

As soon as you enter the museum, the authentic artifacts on display catch your eye.

From beadwork to pottery to historical photographs of tribe members, life-size figures are also on display, including what tribe members looked and wore at the time.

Rodriquez said it was difficult to pick a favorite historical item for his role.

As curator of the museum, he delves into the culture of Kokopa and finds the best ways to introduce the tribe to visitors.

“I’m trying to understand its significance. I’m trying to get the details of its history,” Rodriquez said. They’re all in the presentation, they’re in our presentation, and we want to make sure others understand. ”

Desert designs, remnants of Kokopa and other tribes can be found in surrounding areas such as San Diego, North Las Vegas and Mexico.

Habitats and petroglyphs predominate, and there is no way Kokopa is completely protected from what people left behind during their travels.

These items are thousands of years old, not hundreds of years old.

A precious history that cocopa urges people to leave alone.

“They may come across something like that, and then they’ll respect it and want to make sure they stay there forever,” Rodriquez said. I was a kid who saw this and it’s still here. I don’t want to call it living in history, but it is history that is left in our land, our hills, our rocks. ”

Staying in touch with the community is important to Cocopah as it helps us honor their history.

From attending the Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo Parade to hosting artwork classes, there are currently no classes available, but Rodriquez said he is open to hosting classes with proper planning. increase.

“It’s something we can do very easily in the future today, but this is what we want to leave behind,” said Rodriquez, for generations after them.

When I asked Rodriquez what exhibiting and preserving artifacts meant to him, he said it was important.

On what museums mean to their culture, he said:

“We want to share our culture so that you can live in Yuma County your whole life and not know exactly what land you stand on. ” said Rodriquez.

The museum’s expansion and renovation will be completed by June and will remain open so you can see authentic Cocopah novelty items.