Havasupai Gardens

An oasis halfway down the Grand Canyon formerly known as “Indian Garden” is now called “Havasupai Gardens” in honor of its original inhabitants. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports, the Havasupai Nation celebrated the change on Thursday in a ceremony at the canyon’s rim that opened with a blessing.

Grand Canyon National Park and the Havasupai Tribe will host a ceremony Thursday, May 4th, 2023, to rename a landmark along the popular Bright Angel Trail. It’s the latest example of a larger effort to change public place names that are derogatory toward First Nations people.

Park service officials say the Pewaukee, Wisconsin man was attempting a day hike from the Rim to the Colorado River and back.

An oasis halfway down the Grand Canyon on a popular hiking trail is now officially called “Havasupai Gardens.” The name was changed from “Indian Garden” last month at the request of the Havasupai Tribe. Havasupai lived and farmed in the area up until 1928, when the National Park Service forced them out. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with tribal member Carletta Tilousi about that history.

Havasupai Chairman Thomas Siyuja, Sr. says the renaming of the sacred place will “finally right that wrong" of the forcible removal of the Havasupai people.