The V Bar V Heritage Site was renamed the Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site during a ceremony held as part of Beaver Creek Heritage Days on Saturday, March 16, with Stewart Koyiyumptewa of the Hopi Office of Cultural Preservation in attendance.
Koyiyumptewa is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Hopi tribe and spearheaded the renaming effort with the help of his wife and others over the course of several years.
Koyiyumptewa gave a talk that began with a prayer to his ancestors for the moisture during the past winter months. The Hopi practice dry farming and rely on winter moisture and precipitation for growing crops. He then told a story about taking his wife on a surprise day trip to visit V Bar V and other sites a few years ago and said that the audience should have seen the reaction on her face when he told they were visiting V Bar V, as she thought they were visiting a cattle ranch and not a significant petroglyph site.
When they reached the site, Koyiyumptewa said that her mood completely changed. He added that he feels it to be very rewarding to visit such sites as a way to connect with his past and that children should be exposed to them more often. Now an uncle, Koyiyumptewa said he is getting used to being the knowledge-keeper for his clan to pass on information to younger generations.
After this trip, Koyiyumptewa said his wife told him he should make an effort to change the name, believing that many would miss the opportunity to see the site if they thought it was just a cattle ranch.
Koyiyumptewa drafted a letter to the Coconino National Forest and other tribes that surround the site, proposing the idea of a possible name change. He met with Vincent Randall, the late Apache Cultural Director at the YavapaiApache Nation, and Gertrude Smith, the current Yavapai Cultural Director.
At first, he suggested using a Hopi name, specifically the Hopi word for crane, as the site is one of the few including a crane petroglyph, which Koyiyumptewa said is unique. Randall was concerned with people being able to pronounce the Hopi name.
“I thought it was easy,” Koyiyumptewa joked.
They eventually agreed on the name “Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site,” which was eventually approved by the U.S. Forest Service.
Next, Koyiyumptewa said he wants to change the name of Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well. The former would require an act of Congress to change the name. Aiming to find middle ground, Koyiyumptewa has suggested Montezuma Well be named Sun Springs Well in reference to the creation story of the Yavapai people, who believe their ancestors emerged from the well.
“I’m grateful for the changes that have happened here,” Koyiyumptewa said, pointing out the petroglyph viewing area and wheelchair accessible ramp.
“What an accomplishment in my heart to see this name change happen.”
Peter Pilles, an archaeologist for the Coconino National Forest, also spoke about his time preserving and working at the site and its archaeological and cultural significance.
