City of Mesa Officially Renames Mesa Grande Cultural Park

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~ Mesa, Arizona - The City of Mesa has officially renamed Mesa Grande Cultural Park to Sce:dagi Mu:val Vaaki, in honor of the region's rich cultural heritage and deep connection to the O'odham and Piipaash peoples and their ancestors. The renaming ceremony, held at the park located at 1000 N Date, Mesa, Arizona, was a tribute to the ancestral lands of the Native communities who have inhabited this landscape for generations.

The new name, pronounced CHUH-dag MOO-vahl VAH-kee, comes from a series of songs originating at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), located only about one mile from the ancestral site. In the Oodham language, it means "Blue Flys place of dwelling" or "Blue Flys house."

Mayor John Giles expressed his appreciation for the cultural significance of this renaming. "The lands that make up present-day Mesa hold great importance to the O'odham and Piipaash peoples and their ancestors," he said. "This renaming is a way for us to pay tribute to their enduring legacy and honor their sacred connection to these lands."

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The City of Mesa has a long history of working with Indigenous communities such as SRPMIC and Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) to preserve and protect important cultural sites within the region. This renaming is a testament to these collaborative efforts and highlights the deep connections that exist between the O'odham and Piipaash peoples and their ancestral lands.

In addition to renaming the park, SRPMIC has awarded a $200,000 grant to the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH) for developing new signage, interpretive labels, and an educational curriculum related to Sce:dagi Mu:val Vaaki. This will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of this site.

The City of Mesa acknowledges that it gathers on the homeland of Native peoples and their ancestors, whose cultural values are deeply embedded in this landscape. Sce:dagi Mu:val Vaaki will open to the public for the season on Saturday, November 9th and will be open until mid-April on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit azmnh.org.

This renaming ceremony is a significant step towards honoring and preserving the cultural heritage of the O'odham and Piipaash peoples and their ancestors. It serves as a reminder of the deep connection between these communities and their ancestral lands, and highlights the City of Mesa's commitment to acknowledging and preserving this important link for future generations.

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