Walk the Ancient Trails of the Indigenous People
THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE RED ROCK NEWS
October 20, 2023
October 9, 2023, was recognized as Indigenous People’s Day. It is a day that we honor the perseverance and courage of the Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad of contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
Just a few days prior, on October 6, President Joe Biden, Jr. signed a Proclamation signifying the importance of Indigenous People’s Day, acknowledging their trials and tribulations dating back thousands of years.
The Proclamation states, “Today, Indigenous peoples are a beacon of resilience, strength, and perseverance as well as a source of incredible contributions. Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations continue to practice their cultures, remember their heritages, and pass down their histories from generation to generation. They steward this country’s lands and waters and grow crops that feed all of us. They serve in the United States military at a higher rate than any other ethnic group. They challenge all of us to celebrate the good, confront the bad, and tell the whole truth of our history.”
Sedona, Arizona is home to the Indigenous peoples and is considered a sacred place to the Hopi, Apache and Yavapai tribes. We celebrate and commemorate their vibrant history and Native American cultures.
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau created the Cultural Journey of the Indigenous People of the Verde Valley region and include Native American heritage sites on Sedona’s Secret 7 brochure and online at SedonaSecret7.com.
The ancient trails begin at the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum, introducing guests to the rich culture heritage of the area through exhibits, educational programs and interactive experiences. The next stop is Montezuma Castle National Monument which contains a five-story Native American dwelling carved out of an ancient limestone cliff. Eleven miles away is Montezuma Well Heritage Site which showcase traces of irrigation ditches once created by the Sinagua and Hohokam.
Heading up I-17 North, and exiting at State Route 179/Sedona, the Crane Petroglyph and V Bar V Ranch is located. There over 1,032 petroglyphs can be found and is the largest known petroglyph site in the Verde Valley.
On the outskirts of Sedona, the Honanki and sister, Palatki Heritage sites were the largest cliff dwelling of Red Rock country between AD 1150 to 1350. The trail ends at Tuzigoot National Monument, an ancient 110-room hilltop pueblo and museum located near Clarkdale, Arizona.
The purpose of the Cultural Journey of the Indigenous peoples is to educate and inform both locals and visitors of our sacred land. It also gives our guests the ability to experience the sights and sounds of the past, connect with southwestern archaeology and visit the heritage sites while honoring the ancestral landscape that is now stewarded, protected, respected and celebrated.
–Michelle Conway, President/CEO
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau