O'odham & Piipaash Cultural Resources

Ṣa:pai cu’ig? / Kamdothk muuvaak?

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O'odham / Piipaash Songs Gins / Kinse - Men Only Game Ko'omai - Women Only Game Basket Making Traditional Foods

O'odham / Piipaash Songs

O'odham Songs

Black Cloud

Black Cloud is a wine song that was sung to bring in the clouds. The song says: Black cloud, I saw it. / It's way over there, coming this way. / Black cloud buzzard, shaped like that. / It's coming but it's turning around. / It's so loud, rolling thunder. / The clouds are coming in, turning in a circle.


Click here if audio player doesn't work: Black Cloud

Going Home

The Going Home is sung at the end of a gathering. The song says: Here as our songs come to an end, come stand and sing with me as you are going away.


Click here if audio player doesn't work: Going Home


Piipaash Songs

Chiyer - Bird Song

Note: These songs are not only sung by Piipaash. They are sung by other Yuman tribes as well.

This song is one of many songs from the Bird series, these are the most recognizable songs of the Piipaash. The songs start at dusk and conclude at dawn. This particular song talks about the nighttime coming “Thinyaam” is what they call it, you can hear this word in the song.


Click here if audio player doesn't work: Thinyaam

1. Nyayma thinyaayma**
2. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
3. Thinyayma thinyama thinyaayma
4. Thinyayma thinyaayma		 Main verse (sung 4 times or as many times as singer wishes). **As a transition, line one is sung with raised pitch then switch to chorus.
1. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
2. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
 Chorus (sung twice)

After second time chorus is sung, it resumes melody of line 3 & 4 of main verse.
1. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
2. Thinyayma thinyama thinyaayma
3. Thinyayma thinyama thinyaayma
4. Thinyayma thinyaayma
1. Nyayma thinyaayma**
2. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
3. Thinyayma thinyama thinyaayma
4. Thinyayma thinyaayma		 Main verse (sung 4 times or as many times as singer wishes). **As a transition, line one is sung with raised pitch then switch to chorus.
1. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
2. Thinyayma thinyayma thinyaayma
 Chorus (sung twice)

Piipaa - Tin Can

Tin can is another song series sung by the Piipaash; these are like bird songs as they talk about many things. This song talks about telling someone to get up as the people go by dancing. The word to see is “Yuuk”, “Mank” is the word to rise or get up, and “Iimak” is the word for dancing, this is what the song says.


Click here if audio player doesn't work: Tin Can

1. Waanyuuk kamana
2. Waanyuuk kamana
3. Kiimakii amana
4. Makii amana		 Main verse (sung 4 times or as many times as singer wishes). **As a transition, line four is sung with a faded-out pitch. The throwing of the tin can stops and chorus is song.
1. Kman kyuuk
2. aman nyuuk aman nyuu
 Chorus is sung with no tin can.
1. Waanyuuk kamana
2. Waanyuuk kamana
3. Kiimakii amana
4. Makii amana		 It resumes melody of main verse. The tin can rolls for line one and two once then is thrown again. (Song is sung for times again or as many times as singer wishes.

Gins / Kinse - Men Only Game

Gins / Kinse is a traditional gambling game played by men. These instructional videos will prepare you to play.

Gins / Kinse - Part 1

Gins / Kinse - Part 2


Ko'omai - Women Only Game

Ko'omai Game Instruction

Ko'omai is a womens betting game. Traditionally items to bet were baskets, pottery, handmade items, and food such as wheat, beans, vegetables, etc.

The game pieces consist of 4 sticks, usually made from arrowweed. Other materials sometimes used for sticks were cactus rib, willow and creosote. The sticks are split and painted on the rounded side. The painted side is the side used to determine points.

The other item needed is a flat rock. These were often taken from the river bank. Although not necessary, some women would bring their own sticks and rock to a game of Ko'omai. For this demonstration, all game pieces will be provided.


Click here if audio player doesn't work: Ko'omai Song

Ko'omai Song - Lyrics

Ko'omai 'am 'e  ṣu:liga
Ko'omai 'am 'e ṣ u:liga
Ko'omai 'a:ñi, 'amjeḍ  'a:pi
Ko'omai 'am 'e ṣ u:liga


Basket Making Demonstration


Traditional Foods

Click the photo to view a PDF version of the Traditional Foods PowerPoint. This file is also downloadable.

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Ṣa:pai cu’ig? / Kamdothk muuvaak?

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Greetings to our O’odham and Piipaash relatives in California. At the 2025 SRPMIC California Membership meeting, we will be sharing with you information regarding traditional games, foods, songs and basketweaving. Realizing this will be a lot of information shared in a short period of time, we’ve createdthis site as a resource to assist you with your continued learning journey. Click here for the O'odham Piipaash Resource site or use the link on the left. This site is intended to be temporary and will be taken down later this year, so please take advantage of this opportunity to absorb the information provided. However, the SRPMIC Cultural Resources Department will continue to provide cultural content through our regular web and social media sites (see below). No matter where we go in life, we remain O’odham and Piipaash, and we remain connected through are heritage and culture. For more from Cultural Resources s can the QR code or visit the links below. Facebook : https://www.fac...
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