S'edav Va'aki Museum set to reopen and here's what's in store

Phoenix, Arizona: The S'edav Va'aki Museum, formerly known as the Pueblo Grande Museum, will reopen on Thursday, October 17. Musician Randy Kemp (Myskoke-Creek/Euchee/Choctaw) is scheduled to perform the flute; artist Dwayne Manual will discuss his creation The Epochs of Water Through a Stratified Land; and there will be more live activities and talks. 

The museum's name, 'S'edav Va'aki', comes from the O'odham language, meaning 'Central Mound', referring to the large platform mound that is a prominent feature of the site. The museum focuses on the ancient Hohokam culture, an Indigenous group that inhabited the Phoenix area for centuries, primarily between CE450 and 1450.

The museum is situated on a 1,500-year-old Hohokam archaeological site, which is designated as a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can explore the remnants of the Hohokam village, including the large platform mound, ball courts, irrigation canals, and residential areas. These features showcase the advanced engineering and societal organization of the Hohokam, particularly their canal systems, which were among the most sophisticated in the pre-Columbian Americas.

The opening night exhibit being kicked off is 'Following Their Roots: Traditional Native American Farming in Arizona, Past and Present'. This exhibit explores the connection between Native American communities in Arizona and their agricultural traditions, offering a historical perspective and a glimpse into the contemporary practices that sustain these important cultural lifeways today.