This is the Gila River Indian Reservation Community that the writer of "When My Brother Was an Aztec" Natalie Diaz considers herself to be a part of and works hard to make sure her culture and language are not forgotten and end up extinct like so many other cultures and languages that ended because of westerners who forced many Native American tribes to forget their cultures, languages, and so much more. It was created back in 1859 and it is located close to Phoenix, Arizona. The population of the preservation is 12,179 according to the last U.S. Census conducted a few years back. The reservation itself is about 372,000 acres with 15,000 of those acres used solely for their agricultural needs and another 22,000 acres used by other farming operations. Diaz dedicates part of her life to preserving the language surrounded by her and the culture she feels so connected to. This is important to the text because this community is a big part of Natalie Diaz's life. She feels connected to the reservation and is fighting to preserve its history, language, and culture by showing how vital this piece of land is. She works with the older generation of the Gila Indian Reservation Community to learn about the language too.
Sources Used:
"Gila River Indian Community Profile." University of Arizona. https://naair.arizona.edu/gila-river-indian-community