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Videos of the Week

Shoshone-Bannock History in Idaho
PART I OF II: 2008's historic Idaho Democratic Convention, held in Boise, ID, June 12-14, invited Idaho Native American Tribal members from the Shoshone-Bannock/Fort Hall, Shoshone-Paiute/Duck Valley, Nez Perce, and Coeur D'Alene tribal communities to take an active part in the convention activities. On June 12th, the Idaho AFL-CIO hosted a Democratic picnic for convention goers. Mr. Ted Howard, Cultural Resource Director, Duck Valley, spoke to picnic participants about the Shoshone-Paiute-Bannock history in the Boise Valley area. 9:49 minutes.

Part II-Grand Entry, Flag Ceremony and Recessional
All convention tribal members participated in the grand entry at the beginning of the June 13th Idaho Democratic Convention gathering followed by a flag ceremony and presentation by Mr. Lee Juan Tyler, Council Member, Shoshone-Bannock/Fort Hall community. Fort Hall and Duck Valley singers and drummers played songs for the grand entry, flag ceremony and recessional.
9:59 minutes

Native American Prophecy
Narrated by the late Floyd RedCrow Westerman 6:36 minutes

7 Generations
Elder Orin Lyons talks about preparing for the next 7 generations. 8:43 minutes

Hist->ModernDayHeroes: Voice your opinion on renaming Squaw Peak to 'Piestewa Peak'

Posted on Thursday, April 03 @ 22:49:04 CDT

AUTHOR: Connie Cone Sexton

Will feds pick 'Piestewa Peak'? Board to vote on idea as 5-year wait ends. It's not too late to voice your opinion, but time is running out.

Stumble It!

Five years after the issue set off a political storm in Arizona, a federal panel will consider renaming Squaw Peak after fallen soldier Lori Piestewa.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names is expected to vote April 10, 2008 on whether to change the name of the summit, one of the Valley's highest, on maps and other federal publications. The board requires a five-year waiting period to consider such posthumous requests, in part to allow those who argue passionately for or against a name to cool down.

Renaming Squaw Peak after soldier Lori Piestewa

In this case, the vote is once again refueling the debate over renaming Squaw Peak after Piestewa, the first American Indian woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military. Some argue the name should stay the same or be named in honor of all veterans.

Supporters say Piestewa is more than deserving. The Hispanic-Hopi mother of two from Tuba City died March 23, 2003, during an ambush while serving in Iraq. She was 23.

Five years ago, Gov. Janet Napolitano and others successfully convinced a state panel to waive its own five-year waiting period to adopt the name Piestewa Peak.

The same request went to the national board in 2003, but the members weren't about to violate the five-year rule, said Jennifer Runyon, chief researcher for the panel.

"We all take this seriously. Renaming a peak is pretty much a permanent honor, and the idea is to let the emotions die down," she said. "But the five-year clock started ticking the day she died."

Piestewa isn't the only name the national board will consider April 10.

Prescott resident Al Bates, a self-described historian, is asking the national board that the peak be named for Jack Swilling, considered by some the father of irrigation in Phoenix. Swilling died in 1878.

The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names rejected that same request in November.

"I have nothing against Piestewa," Bates said, arguing that Swilling has a closer tie to the Valley.

Most of the communication the national board is receiving regarding Squaw Peak is over the Piestewa name, Runyon said.

"It's about 50-50 for those for and against," she said.

There was a flurry of communication five years ago when the name request was first proposed, but it's been quiet until the past few days.

Lou Yost, executive secretary of the national board whose members represent various government departments including Agriculture, Commerce and Homeland Security, said they review about 350 requests a year.

"About four or five are high-profile cases, and this is one of them," he said of the Piestewa Peak case.

Larry Wayt, who hikes Piestewa Peak four days a week and leads a "Squaw Peak" hiking group, doesn't want the federal government to follow the state's adoption of the name.

"It needs to remain Squaw Peak," he said. "It's been Squaw Peak forever."

Wayt runs a Web site for hikers and is asking them to send letters opposing the name change.

You can voice your own opinion at BGNEXEC@usgs.gov

"If they were going to change the name, it should be named Arizona Veterans Peak, not for just one individual," said Wayt, who said he served 22 years in the Coast Guard.

Ernest Martinez, who helps lead the Piestewa Memorial Committee, said the controversy that erupted five years ago was painful, not only to the Piestewas but to the state.

Indian tribes have been fighting the name Squaw Peak for a long time

"The tribes have been fighting the name Squaw Peak for the longest time because the word 'squaw' had such negative connotations. It took the death of Lori to succeed for what the tribes have fought for vigorously."

If the national board approves Piestewa Peak, it will bring a sense of peace to Arizona, Martinez said. "It will close a chapter that has been on the minds of people, a controversy that can be over."

John Lewis, executive director of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona that represents 20 tribes, said his group has passed a resolution and sent it to the national group supporting the new name.

"We want it to maintain the name Piestewa," he said. "It's a final step that needs to be taken."

Piestewa Peak is the official name recognized by the State of Arizona

If the national board chooses to keep the name Squaw Peak, it won't affect Arizona, said Julie Hoff, a reference and map librarian who provides research help for the state board on geographic names.

"Once it's approved by the state, it's the official name used in the state," she said. The name was officially accepted by the State of Arizona in 2003.

The name Piestewa Peak will stand for more than one warrior

Piestewa's mother, Priscilla, waits to see what will happen.

"I just want people to realize it's not just a place for Lori; it's for all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice," she said. "Just hearing from other parents who lost someone in the war, they can feel the presence of their kids."

Priscilla Piestewa said she can't worry that the upcoming vote could tear open old wounds and create new controversy.

"If it does, it does," she said. "I keep saying things happen for a reason. There are obstacles and blessings and they come from God, and we go on as best we can."

Reach the reporter at connie.sexton@arizonarepublic.com or 602 444-8894.

Editor's Note:
Ms. Piestewa was not just the first native american woman killed in combat, she was the first woman of any race from the US killed in combat. This Easter Sunday which just passed marked the death of the 4,000th US soldier to die in the Iraq War.