Taxon’s Mayor and Council approved Christopher Columbus Park to be named in honor of the tohono O’Odham teacher and Elder at Danny Lopez Park on Wednesday, who dedicated their lives to preserve the Tohono Oh language and culture.
In a letter dated September 2024 to Lara Hamway, director of Taxon Parks and Recreation, supporters said the change in honor of Lopez said that change would be “a step towards harmony and treatment.”
The signatures supporting the name change included Lopez’s wife and daughter, Tuxon original youth council and a handful of members and leaders of a handful of community.
Next month, Tuxon Park and Entertainment responded to the proposal by announcing the 45-day public comment period, allowing community members to share input on name change.
Until February 19, 2025, the naming proposal was approved by the city.
Who was Danny Lopez?
Danny Lopez was a revered and beloved tohono O’Odham in the Tuxon community. He was a traditional singer, storyteller and a teacher of tohono o’Odham culture.
In his 30 -year teaching career, from primary school to college, he taught Himadag to the members of Hundreds of Tohono Oh Odham Nation.
In 2005, he was given by the Herd Museum to the South -West Tribal members, who performed personal excellence and community leadership.
Lopez was born in the village of GE Odag (Big Field). He graduated from St. John Indian School and joined Marine Corps. He worked in mining while participating in the night classes on the way to become a language and culture instructor at the Tohono Oh Odham Community College.
Although he died in 2008, his community influence continued.
Tohono o’odham people
The history of the tohono O’Odham people is before the formation of the Republic of the United States and the Republic of Mexico.
O’Odham resided in a vast area of the land in the south -west, which Sonora, Mexico, Central Arizona in the north (Phoenix, north of Arizona), to the west of the Gulf of California, and for the San Pedro River The east was spread. According to Oodham history, Bhoomi was called Papaguria and it was the home of Oopahham for thousands of years.
The purchase of Gadsen affected the tohono O’Odham through the loss of land and the implementation of the US-Maxico border which divided his people.
O’Odham bands are now broken into four federally recognized tribes: Tohono O’Odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, AK-Chin Indian Community and Salt River (Pima Maricopa) Indian Community.
Park history
Originally named Silverbell Park, the site was renamed Christopher Columbus Park in 1990, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus in the US.
The Taxon Chapter of Columbus’s knights led to an attempt to change the name, which was aimed at honoring Explorer as part of the international festival.
Former co-chairman of the Taxon Native Youth Council, Azul Navret-Wlerara expressed that the first Christopher Columbus Park gives glory to a person whose actions ended massive massacre, misconduct and harassment of indigenous people. . “
Honoring the change of perspective on history and cultural representation, the name of the park was changed to re -name to honor their impact on Lopez and the local community.
Name changes received strong community support, including the support of Taxon Council members Lane Santa Cruise and Kevin Dahl, who are allegedly funded by the cost of $ 10,000 to update the park’s signage.
In the coming months, park signage and other online references will be updated to reflect the new name. Residents may soon expect more information about a formal dedication ceremony to celebrate this milestone, Taxon park and entertainment.
The new name of the park stands as a will to honor local indigenous leaders, and to the importance of their contribution to cultural protection and education, Tuxon Park and Entertainment said.
Reporter Olivia Rose contributed to this article,
