May 2006



Celebrate "SUVOYUKI*" on JULY 8,2006

RuinsPhoto and Story by Arizona State Parks

CELEBRATE SUVOYUKI -- On July 8, Homolo'vi Ruins State Park and the Hopi
tribe invite you to
"Suvoyuki Day," which celebrates Hopi Culture and the rich heritage
documented in the archaeological sites at Homolovi Ruins State Park. Other
community partners for this event are the Homolo'vi Chapter of the Arizona
Archaeological Society, the Arizona State Museum and the City of Winslow.


ARIZONA STATE PARKS

Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partnerships.

Contact: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518,
ebilbrey@pr.state.az.us

HOMOLO'VI RUINS STATE PARK "Gateway to Hopi Lands"

*Hopi for joint effort

(Phoenix, Arizona - May 12, 2006) - Hopi Tribal leaders and Arizona State Parks staff have been collaborating for three years to create a new model for park management and tourism to traditional Hopi lands which will preserve and protect the sacred culture, while offering special cultural tour opportunities for the public.

Homolo'vi Ruins, one of a series of many ancient Hopi pueblos found in the Southwest, offers the public the opportunity to begin their journey into Hopi life and culture.

Like the modern visitor making their way to Hopi, Homol'ovi Ruins was a stop for the ancestral Hopi people along their migration route, eventually moving on and settling at one of the current Hopi villages.

On July 8, 2006 Homolo'vi Ruins State Park and the Hopi tribe invite you to "Suvoyuki Day," which celebrates Hopi Culture and the rich heritage documented in the archaeological sites at Homolovi Ruins State Park. Other community partners for this event are the Homolo'vi Chapter of the Arizona
Archaeological Society, the Arizona State Museum and the City of Winslow.

Hopi artists will be demonstrating the making and firing of traditional pottery. There is also a katsina doll carver on hand demonstrating the
traditional craft. At 8:00 am and again at 1:00 pm visitors can join Archaeologists from the Arizona State Museum for a guided tour of Homolo'vi
II Pueblo Ruins, a National Register of Historic Places. Homolo'vi II tours are on well-maintained, wheelchair accessible park roads.

The archaeological sites at Homolo'vi Ruins State Park include four major pueblos, numerous smaller structures and site features from one-room
pithouses or simple artifact scatters to a 1200-room pueblo, and panels of petroglyphs with numerous depictions of katsina and clan symbols. The sites date from AD 620-850; AD 1050-1225; and AD 1260-1400.

During each of these periods there was a concentrated population of people living near the Little Colorado River. Members of the Hopi Nation still consider this area an important ancestral site and return to Homolovi for religious purposes.

Homolo'vi Ruins State Park was established in response to public concern about the devastation of the Homolo'vi sites by illegal collection of
prehistoric artifacts. Local residents and leaders of the Hopi people, with statewide support, have worked tirelessly to protect these sites.

Homolo'vi Ruins State Park is located five miles northeast of the city of Winslow, Navajo County, in northeastern Arizona. The park campground is
convenient to I-40 and accommodates large rigs, as well as tent camping.

Normal fees apply for the event: $5 per vehicle with up to 4 adults, and $1 for each additional adult. Camping: $12 if you do not use the electricity,
$19 if you plug into the electricity. Sign language interpretation available, arrangements must be made in advance by contacting the park at
928.289.4106.

For information about Arizona's State Park call 602-542-4174 (long distance 800-285-3703) or see the website at www.azstateparks.com.