S’eḏav Va’aki Museum’s Reopening Showcases Water and Culture

November 07, 2025

Jeston Morris

Community Newsperson

PHOENIX, Ariz.- – S’eḏav Va’aki celebrated its reopening with two new exhibits on Oct. 2 following a summer renovation. 

Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department changed the museum’s name from Pueblo Grande Museum to S’eḏav Va’aki Museum in the spring of 2023. The archaeological site sits on the ancestral homelands of the Gila River, Salt River, Ak-Chin, and Tohono O’odham tribal nations.

Billy Allen, Gila River Indian Community member and freelance writer/language expert, provided the translation. S’eḏav means “in the middle or center.” In the O’otham creation story, men who lived in tall, walled buildings known as Va’aki.’

Attendees celebrated with light refreshments. Loralynn Yazzie performed classical cello for the outdoor evening festivities. Caitlin Dichter, curator of exhibits at the Museum, moderated the event and introduced the panelists.

“We are happy and excited to get people back into the S’eḏav Va’aki Museum after the summer innovation.” Dichter said.

“We are thrilled to get two traveling exhibits,” said Nicole Armstrong-Best museum administrator.

Two panelists discussed the new exhibits. Aaron Sabori, artist and educator from Komatke, presented on one of the new exhibits entitled ‘Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections.’ Julie Comnick, executive director of Creative Flagstaff, and Jane Marks, professor of biological science, presented on ‘Parched: The Art of Water in the Southwest’ and its accompanying documentary film.

“Comnick is the curator of the Parched exhibit. Marks served on the steering committee and co-produced the documentary,” Dichter said.

Artists include Klee Benally, Josh Biggs, Debra Edgerton, Neal Galloway, Marie Gladue, Delisa Myles, Shawn Skabelund, Glory Tacheenie-Campy, and Kathleen Velo. In the documentary, each artist discusses their work, which ranges from aerial views, cellular and molecular microscopic visualization to lenticular 3D, flooding and drilling diagrams, water filtration imagery to performance art.

Arizona State Museum’s Community Curators include Council member Jacob Butler from Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Aaron Sabori from Gila River Indian Community, District 6. Their exhibit, Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections was presented by Sabori.

Water Has  Memory

According to Sabori, his grandfather taught him the knowledge of water. “Water has memory” means the water knows where to flow naturally and makes its way back to the ocean. This knowledge has been passed down through many generations. His grandfather practiced singing and healing, and his grandmother was an herbalist. Sabori grew up in a house without running water and recalls hauling water from natural spring. They used water for a cleansing and healing.    

“The water knowledge is in our biological memory. We just have to bring it back, rekindle our connection with water. When O’otham traditional medicine folks cure and heal an ill person, it always involves water. For example, you heat water with herbs and drink it. Growing up, we never went to the hospital,” Sabori said. “This exhibit is about water having memory. We are bringing it back. We are rekindling our connection with water.” 

Over the summer of 2025, the S’eḏav Va’aki Museum was temporarily closed for renovations, including installation of a new HVAC system, modernize displays, and deinstallation previous exhibits as well as install two new exhibits. “We will be celebrating the 48th Annual Indian Market here at the S’eḏav Va’aki Museum on December 13-14, 2025,” said Rosetta Walker, community liaison co-chair.