Three days of events will mark the grand re-opening of Homolovi Ruins State Park, starting with a proposal to drop the word “ruins” from the official name.
Members of the State Parks Board will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, in the Winslow City Council Chambers to discuss the proposed name change. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and provide input.
Parks representative Ellen Bilbrey noted that the name change is being considered at the request of the Hopi Tribe, and that so far, public comments submitted to the board have supported the change.
“Staff is recommending it,” she remarked. “All responses have been very supportive.”
According to a state parks report, the tribe has requested the removal of the word “ruins” from the name because it denotes something that is dead. Hopi consider Homolovi a sacred site. The current proposal would only remove the word from the name, and would not replace it with another word.
The Hopi Tribe is a partner in re-opening the park, which was closed due to state budget cuts. The tribe is contributing $175,000 for one year of operation. State park staff will handle day-to-day operations.
In addition to holding their March meeting in Winslow and discussing the proposed name change, parks board members will also attend the grand re-opening celebration at Homolovi on Friday, March 18. A full schedule of events was not available as of press time, but tours and activities will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Confirmed events include presentations by officials from the Hopi Tribe, the State Parks Board, Navajo County, the City of Winslow and other agencies at 12 noon, followed by a blessing and corn planting ceremony at 12:45 p.m.
Events also expected to take place throughout the day include pottery firing demonstrations, Hopi social dances and storytelling, as well as talks and demonstrations by Hopi carvers, painters, jewelers, basket makers and weavers. A traditional Hopi foot race is also in the works.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, Dr. Chuck Adams and Richard Lange of the Arizona State Museum will lead archaeological tours through the park. Adams and Lange will provide interpretation, including the history and significance of the sites within the park.
Events are also being planned for April, including a traditional garden planting by Hopi elders. A date for the planting has not yet been set.
The re-opening is part of the state parks department Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month, which runs through March. The Arizona Humanities Council provided a $7,250 grant to help with the cost of the re-opening celebration.
More information about the grand re-opening and other archaeology awareness month events is available online at www.azstateparks.com.
