The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board has decided to change the name of the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park to S'edav Va'aki Museum.

The board also approved the use of the marketing tagline “Gateway to Phoenix Heritage" during its March 23 meeting.

The name S'edav Va'aki (Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community spelling) or Central Vahki (English spelling) is an O'Odham name that reflects the connection the site has with the local O'Odham and Piipaash communities, according to a city release.

S'edav Va'aki refers to the large platform mound (Va'aki), which is preserved at the site, and the central location of the ancestral village within the Salt River Valley and to the extensive canal system created by engineers before Euro-Americans moved into the region.

Pronunciation guide:

• S'edav pronounced suh-UH-dahf
• Va'aki pronounced VAH-ah-kee
• O'Odham pronounced awe-THUMB
• Piipaash pronounced pee-POSH

“Renaming the Pueblo Grande Museum to the S'edav Va'aki Museum could not come at a better time as our city celebrates Phoenix History Month,” Mayor Kate Gallego said.

“The name change reflects our commitment to honoring the Indigenous people who helped build our community thousands of years ago. I look forward to the continued educational impact this museum will have on all Phoenicians."

Kelly Dalton, who chairs the board, called the renaming “an important step for our city. This new name reflects our commitment to honoring those who have shaped our culture and history."  

“Words and titles matter,” said Shane Anton, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community tribal historic preservation officer. "This name change will help to have a greater and more direct impact on how this significant ancestral site is interpreted."

The previous name, Pueblo Grande, is defined in the Spanish language and denotes the site as a “pueblo," which is not how the O'Odham would describe their villages or habitation sites, according to the release.

“The museum exists to preserve and help interpret the site and the ancestral occupation and to bring attention to living Indigenous communities,” the release stated.

“Located on a site with one of the few remaining platform mounds (Va'aki) differentiates the museum from other museums in Phoenix. Rebranding the museum with an appropriate O'Odham name will better serve museum audiences. This change will elevate the museum's profile and increase interest in the site.”

The museum will gradually begin transitioning signs throughout the museum and on the website throughout the summer and fall.

The  S'edav Va'aki Museum will unveil its logo during an event in the fall.