Taos Pueblo Proposes ‘Red Willow Park’ Renaming with Conditions

The leadership of Taos Pueblo has proposed renaming Kit Carson Park to “Red Willow Park,” a name that holds cultural significance for the community. This recommendation was presented to the town’s Kit Carson Renaming Committee, which plans to bring the proposal to the town council during a special meeting scheduled for November 17, 2023. The ongoing efforts to rename the park, which honors the controversial frontiersman and soldier Kit Carson, have been underway since 2011.

At a recent meeting, the committee received a letter from the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council outlining six conditions for the acceptance of the new name. Committee Chair and town Councilor Genevieve Oswald expressed optimism, stating, “All six of those points can be met. This was just the door opening.” Accompanying Oswald were Tribal Secretary Jeremy Lujan and Second Tribal Sheriff Jesse Winters, who read the council’s letter, emphasizing the deep connection of the Tiwa people to the land.

The letter articulated the significance of the region to the Tiwa culture, stating, “We are the Tiwa people of Taos Pueblo. This valley is not a place we occupy — it is who we are.” Lujan highlighted the historical continuity of Tiwa life in the area, asserting, “When we say this land is unceded Tiwa land, we mean what words cannot fully capture: We did not lawfully transfer our homeland to another nation.”

The letter criticized the modern renaming process, which the Tribal Council described as “committees, panels, and campaigns that appear inclusive but fail to center the living sovereign people of the place they aim to change.” The letter further noted, “Well-meaning actors — activists, scholars, neighboring tribes, and municipal commissions — frame the narrative while leaving the original people on the margins.”

The legacy of Kit Carson remains a contentious topic. While he is commemorated in various locations, including the Carson National Forest, his involvement in violent campaigns against Native American groups such as the Navajo and Mescalero Apache has led to growing criticism. In 2023, a statue honoring Carson in Santa Fe was toppled, symbolizing broader calls for justice and recognition of historical wrongs.

Oswald emphasized the importance of accompanying the name change with meaningful actions. “Changing the name does nothing to change the relationship,” she remarked, suggesting that the efforts should lead to deeper, long-lasting social change.

Members of Taos Pueblo, including Dr. Christina M. Castro and Turquoise Chenoa Velarde, echoed this sentiment, arguing that a mere name change would be performative without substantive actions to address past injustices. Castro proposed “The People’s Park” as an alternative name, advocating for a broader reevaluation of names that dehumanize Indigenous peoples. She stated, “It’s time to stop valorizing these eras that are so harmful to our people.”

Velarde, who descends from ancestors impacted by the Long Walk — the forced relocation of the Navajo — articulated the need for more than symbolic gestures. “We need people who are ready to do more than clap for justice. We need people willing to fight for it. It goes beyond this; it should not stay performative.”

A question raised during the committee meeting centered on the argument that removing names like Carson’s would obscure discussions about their historical actions. Velarde suggested that educational materials and tourism initiatives could still include discussions of Carson’s legacy while removing his name from the park. She noted that maintaining the park’s current name reflects the town’s priorities, stating, “For it to stand as a priority means that we are not the priority, and then our story isn’t and our history isn’t.”

The Tribal Council’s letter further elaborated on the importance of names in shaping public memory and authority. It stated, “When a name is given to a place in the public sphere, it frames what people remember, who is visible, and whose authority is assumed.” The council emphasized that colonial names and commemorations often honor conquest while obscuring suffering, leading to a narrative that fails to teach history accurately.

As the committee prepares to present the proposal to the town council, the conversation surrounding the proposed renaming of Kit Carson Park continues to spark discussion about representation, justice, and the power of names in public spaces.