Folklorist Big Jim Griffith to end historical talks Thursday

The final lecture about important encounters between cultures of this part of the Pimería Alta will be 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Tubac Golf Resort.

Folklorist and University of Arizona historian Big Jim Griffith will talk about “The Pimería Alta Today.”

This area of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is known as the Pimería Alta, the upper lands of the Pimans, now known as the Tohono O’odham nation.

The eight-part series dealt with the Native Americans and how they interacted with the Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century.

Then came Franciscan missionaries, the Apache, Spanish military and settlers, Mexico and, finally, the Americans.

The lecture series was arranged by the Tubac Historical Society, Tumacácori National Historical Park, the Arizona Humanities Council and the golf resort.

Griffith has written about the Southwest and was on the UA faculty until he retired in 1998.

He’s known in this area as the founder and director of Tucson Meet Yourself, a festival where various cultures in Tucson mix and mingle and show off their differences and similarities.

Griffith’s lecture will take place at the golf resort’s wedding chapel.

The event is free.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749