HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-23 KCPRC Regular Meeting OFFICIAL
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MINUTES
Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting
Hybrid Meeting
Town Council Chambers - 120 Civic Plaza Drive
Thursday, October 23, 2025
3:30 p.m.
1. Opening Items
The Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Oswald 3:38
p.m.
B. Roll Call
Town Clerk Denise Martinez called the roll, and a quorum was present.
Those present were:
Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald
Committee Member George"Fritz" Hahn
Committee Member Peggy Nelson
Committee Member Sylvia Rodriguez
Committee Member Horacio Trujillo
Committee Member Jesse Winters
Also Present:
Town Clerk Denise Martinez
Taos Pueblo Tribal Secretary Jeremy Lujan
Absent/Excused:
Committee Intern Paxton Henry
Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum
C. Pledge of Allegiance
Committee Chair Oswald led the Pledge of Allegiance.
D.Approval of Agenda
Committee Member Trujillo motioned to approve the agenda . Committee Member Hahn seconded the
motion. The motion passed. The Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Trujillo, Hahn, Nelson,
Rodriguez, Winters.
E. Introduction of Items for the Committee
Committee Chair Oswald introduced Taos Pueblo Tribal Secretary Jeremy Lujan, who would be participating with
the committee as a non-voting member of the body for the meeting. She then recapped the process of the
committee and its purpose to finish an action initiated by the Town Council in 2014.
2. Citizens Forum
A. Citizens wishing to speak shall limit their comments to 5 minutes. Citizens may submit comments to
Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald at goswald@taosnm.gov. No action may be taken.
None
3. Consent Agenda -The items in the Consent Agenda have been reviewed by the Committee Chair, and the
Chair has placed these items on the Consent Agenda for the purpose of voting on all items with one vote. The
items listed are for the Committee's consideration and approval.
A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of September 25, 2025, Kit Carson Park Renaming
Committee Meeting Minutes. (Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum)
Committee Member Hahn motioned to approve the September 25, 2025, Kit Carson Park Renaming
Committee Meeting Minutes. Committee Member Nelson seconded the motion. The motion passed. The
Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, Trujillo, Winters.
4. Presentations
A. Reflections on the invaluable opportunity to give a new name to our park - Dr. Christina Castro and
Turquoise Chenoa Velarde
Dr. Castro introduced herself as a Taos and Jemez Pueblo tribal member, a contractor for the Pueblo, and the
founder of the Santa Fe based Three Sisters Collective. She stated that she strongly favored the name change,
describing it as overdue and an important step toward repair and healing for Indigenous communities. Dr. Castro
referenced the historical harms associated with Kit Carson, including the Taos Rebellion and the Long Walk, and
explained why many Pueblo members would not want"Red Willow" associated with the park while Carson's
remains were present nearby. She added that updating signage, maps, and town materials would be a meaningful
first step, and encouraged broader efforts to reconsider other place names, including streets and mountain
references, to better reflect local values and history.
Committee Chair Oswald thanked Dr. Castro for her advocacy and acknowledged the burden of recounting historic
harms. In response to a question from Committee Member Sylvia Rodriguez about the feeling a new name should
evoke, Dr. Castro said she would like to hear from other tribal members about their ideas and she recommended a
celebratory event to mark the change while cautioning against purely performative gestures. Committee Member
Trujillo thanked Dr. Castro for her advocacy and acknowledged the burden of being asked to recount historic
harms. He asked what emotion the new park name should evoke. Dr. Castro responded that the name should
reflect a sustained, concerted effort by the Town to be in good relationship with the original peoples, including
pursuing Indigenous representation on the Town Council. She noted that the current name had been off-putting
even as community members continued to use the park, and she recalled the healing experienced in Santa Fe
when monuments were removed. She further discussed the cumulative harms of dehumanizing representations of
Native people, the reality of generational trauma alongside resilience, and her hope for a future without monuments
or place names honoring perpetrators of violence. Dr. Castro emphasized that an appropriate name choice could
be found and urged practical safety improvements—such as better lighting and an emergency alert feature—to
ensure women and youth felt safe in the park. She closed by reaffirming her long-term commitment to this work for
the sake of future generations.
Turquoise Chenoa Velarde introduced herself as a Taos Pueblo and Jicarilla Apache community member, born and
raised in Taos and serving since 2015 as the Indigenous Outreach Coordinator at UNM—Taos. She explained her
personal connection to the renaming effort through family history, noting Dine ancestry tied to the Long Walk and
relatives who survived the boarding school era. She stated that Native people had remained largely invisible in
local education and civic spaces and that misunderstanding of Kit Carson's actions persisted. She urged the Town
to pair the park's name change with substantive actions such as accessible public history on official websites,
inclusion of this history in school curricula, and mandated training for Town leaders so the process would not be
merely performative.
Ms. Velarde described why her own children attended Santa Fe Indian School, citing insufficient local support for
Indigenous students, and she recounted negative public reactions to the proposed name change as evidence of
the need for deeper education and dialogue. She expressed strong support for renaming the park, acknowledged
that consensus-building would take time, and emphasized honoring both the hardships and resilience of
Indigenous peoples. Ms. Velarde said she hoped the new name would convey commitment, care, and genuine
partnership with tribal leaders, and she encouraged broader, ongoing changes to public spaces and narratives
beyond the park itself.
Committee Chair Oswald reflected that the discussions on the park renaming had been emotionally difficult and
affirmed to Ms. Velarde that the effort had not been performative. She stated as an elected official. she felt a
responsibility to help build a new legacy, noting that meaningful action such as the renaming, gave substance to
the land acknowledgment recited at Town Council meetings.
Committee Member Nelson asked what name Ms. Velarde would like to see at the entry of the park. Ms. Velarde
said she drove through town daily and felt it was important to honor elders and seek broad consensus. She
suggested, that options such as "Memorial Park" or"Veterans Memorial Park" could unite different parts of the
community, particularly given the shared history of service among families from multiple tribal communities, and
she expressed hope that the final choice would reflect connection and togetherness.
Committee Chair Oswald, with support from Committee Member Winters, invited Ms. Henrietta Gomez to speak.
Ms. Gomez said she had initially hesitated to sit on the panel but felt responsible to speak for her daughters and
grandchildren from Taos Pueblo. She observed that, despite some change over her lifetime, Indigenous history and
identity remained largely absent from local schools and public spaces. She reflected on the significance of naming
in Pueblo tradition, cited the harms associated with Kit Carson, including impacts on Apache and Dine peoples, and
noted that community members saw the name daily without being taught the history. She shared that her 14-year-
old grandson had suggested simply calling the site"the Park," and she praised her daughters' advocacy for visibility
and understanding, emphasizing the common humanity of all community members.
Committee Member Winters thanked Ms. Gomez and reiterated his commitment to effort and follow-through. He
reported having sought input from tribal elders and community members throughout the year and said feedback
encountered in person had been positive, despite limited success with broader public-input efforts earlier in the
summer. Committee Chair Oswald added an intention to engage with the next tribal government to plan continued
collaborative work, potentially with participation from Dr. Castro, similar to the work of former presenter Dr. James
Rattlingleaf.
Dr. Castro further stated that Kit Carson's legacy included human trafficking and exploitation, and asked the
community to reflect on whether he would be accepted so easily in modern times. She also urged stronger
consultation with the Tribe on development proposals affecting traditional lands, including consideration of buffer
zones and limits on unchecked growth. Committee Chair Oswald clarified that a referenced project lay in county,
not town,jurisdiction and agreed that conversations should include county representatives. Chair Oswald also
acknowledged Ms. Velarde's support during the process and noted that concerns about education had been heard
by the school board president, who also serves as the Town's assistant manager, present at the meeting.
Committee Member Trujillo reported that he had spoken at UNM—Taos the previous week about the committee's
process and thanked Ms. Velarde for attending and speaking from her own experience. He reiterated a concern
discussed both in the talk and with the committee about a "specious" argument; that a park name should change
only if the Pueblo demands it; and described this as an example of"biological bystanderism," emphasizing the
need to speak up for one another. Committee Member Trujillo then asked Ms. Velarde to address another
argument: that removing "Kit Carson"from the park would prevent discussion of historical harms.
Ms. Velarde responded that the name could be removed while history continued to be taught, noting that
presenting "both sides"was not the same as justice and calling for broader systemic change in town institutions.
She stressed that Indigenous visibility was essential, shared a personal story of discrimination experienced as a
student at Enos Garcia Elementary, and described years of her mother's advocacy with schools, including around
absences for Blue Lake ceremonies. Ms. Velarde urged collaboration between the schools and the Town Council to
prioritize Indigenous educational approaches and place-based learning, stating that such curriculum benefits all
students. She concluded that changing the name would not erase history but would allow the community to build a
different legacy while educating responsibly, affirming that Indigenous perspectives should be a priority.
Josh Concha, a local poet from Taos Pueblo, addressed the committee to express support for the park name
change and suggested choosing a neutral, nature-based name that reflected the beauty of the valley and the
sacred earth, offering "Aspen Park" as an example while noting it should be anything except"Red Willow."
Carmen Medrano, a community member who identified as Indigenous to Mexico and Mexican American,
addressed the body to support the park name change. She stated that names like "Conquistador" and "Kit Carson"
had been glorified through education that omitted Indigenous history and even the fact that the area was once
Mexico, causing residents to become numb to such labels. She argued that if the historical harms associated with
Kit Carson were described without the name attached, most people would oppose honoring him. Ms. Medrano
endorsed selecting a neutral name such as "People's Park"to help bridge Taos's Hispanic, Indigenous, and Anglo
communities, emphasizing that renaming could prompt conversations, truthful education, and community healing,
even if the truths were uncomfortable. She thanked the council for the effort and expressed hope that the action
would be substantive rather than performative.
B. Presentation on preliminary name recommendations received from the public. (Committee Chair
Genevieve Oswald)
Committee Chair Oswald presented the list of preliminary park-name recommendations received from the public.
She noted that the compiled list of approximately 80 unique suggestions excluded personal and profane names.
Town Clerk Martinez scrolled through the submissions while the Committee Chair Oswald asked for clarifications
on some of the Spanish names (e.g., confirming "puente" meant"bridge" and inquiring about the term "commons").
Committee Member Trujillo observed that many suggestions appeared in English and Spanish and reiterated prior
discussions about also incorporating Tiwa where appropriate. Committee Chair Oswald further noted that, aside
from "Taos,"there were no Tiwa place names locally and that this renaming could be an opportunity to change that.
Committee Chair Oswald yielded the floor to Committee Member Winters and his guest Taos Pueblo Tribal
Secretary Jeremy Lujan. Committee Member Winters reported outreach to the community at Taos Pueblo and
stated that, after presenting the process to the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council and Tribal Secretary the previous day,
the Tribal Council supported the name-change effort and had a statement to share. Tribal Secretary Lujan read the
Tribal Council's statement, which situated Taos Pueblo's sovereignty and unceded ties to the land, explained why
names shape public memory, and identified procedural concerns in the current process. The statement set
conditions for moving forward: a formal land acknowledgment agreed to by Taos Pueblo; Taos Pueblo's sovereign
leadership over the renaming process, interpretive content, ceremonial protocol, and timelines; Tiwa-led education
and interpretation; protection of ceremonial access; restrictions on third-party representation without prior consent;
and a public apology with a plan to correct records where past processes marginalized Taos Pueblo. The Tribal
Council formally supported renaming Kit Carson Park to"Red Willow Park," characterizing the change as an act of
restoration rather than erasure. Tribal Secretary Lujan added that a similar effort dating to 2014 had lost traction,
that the Council revisited and resolved the matter the previous afternoon, and submitted the written statement for
the record. Committee Chair Oswald thanked Tribal Secretary Lujan and expressed support and willingness to
meet to plan next steps, then recused herself from further deliberation as a non-voting member of the committee
who will later vote on the renaming at Town Council.
In discussion, Committee Member Nelson asked whether a committee recommendation could reach Town Council
before year-end; Tribal Secretary Lujan indicated the Tribal Council's blessing to proceed, with details of the listed
conditions to be worked out collaboratively. Committee Member Hahn expressed gratitude for the forward
movement and long-term commitment the letter presented and requested copies of the letter; the letter was
provided to Town Clerk Martinez for inclusion in the public record and distribution. The committee then noted that
many names had been solicited, that some prior submissions had been removed for not meeting criteria, and that
"Red Willow Park" had appeared on an earlier list.
5. Matters from the Committee
A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of a short list of names to present at the Town Council
Special Meeting, November 17, 2025.
Committee Member Trujillo expressed appreciation for the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council's letter and, noting that Taos
Pueblo had proposed a single name with prior approval, discussed forwarding one recommendation rather than a
shortlist. Committee Member Rodriguez raised the question about whether the Tiwa name should appear in the
official name; Tribal Secretary Lujan explained that Tiwa is an oral language and stated that"Red Willow Park" in
English, accompanied by Pueblo-led education and interpretation, would provide appropriate clarity. Committee
Member Trujillo then reiterated the committee's intent to support relationship-building beyond the park renaming.
He then suggested that as the Taos Pueblo representative on the committee, Committee Member Winters be the
one to present the motion. Committee Member Winters expressed his gratitude to Tribal Secretary Lujan for his
guidance through the process and shared his appreciation for being able to be an ambassador for his community
and receiving the guidance from his people and his elders. He reiterated that his people have spoken and that"Red
Willow Park" brings the renaming effort to full circle.
After Committee Member Hahn seconded the motion, Committee Chair Oswald acknowledged that he was the lone
vote against rescinding the name "Red Willow Park" during the 2014 effort to rename Kit Carson Park.
Committee Member Winters motioned to approve "Red Willow Park" as the only name suggestion to
present at the Town Council Special Meeting. Committee Member Hahn seconded the motion.The motion
passed. The Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Winters, Hahn, Trujillo, Nelson, and Rodriguez.
B. Preliminary discussion regarding the presentation of the short list of community-submitted name
suggestions for the proposed renaming of Kit Carson Park at the November 17, 2025, Town Council Special
Meeting.
The committee held a preliminary discussion on preparing the presentation of its name recommendation for the
November 17 Special Town Council meeting. Committee Chair Oswald noted that Member Trujillo had agreed to
draft the presentation and invited suggestions from members, stating that the next meeting would be dedicated to
reviewing that draft. He acknowledged the importance of including all of the community input on park needs—such
as maintenance items and emergency call boxes on lighting—and a concise report of the committee's process, key
conversations, and how the recommendation was reached. Member Trujillo outlined a plan to prepare a short
presentation paired with a brief written report, to coordinate with the Tribal Secretary Lujan and Committee Member
Winters to accurately reflect the Tribal Council's conditions and context, and to incorporate relevant history,
including public input from the 2014 name-change process. Committee Chair Oswald asked that the six conditions
identified by Taos Pueblo be included and offered assistance, noting staffing updates related to clerical support.
Town Clerk Martinez offered to compile historical and supporting documents upon request.
6.Adjourn
Committee Member Nelson motioned to adjourn the meeting. The motion was carried unanimously, and the
meeting adjourned at 5:23 p.m.
APPROVED:
Gere a Oswald, Committee Chair
ATTEST:
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Miquela Mangum, Deputy Town Clerk
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PRINT Name Clearly Residence (NOT mailing address) TOPIC
Suggested Names for the Park
Acequia Park/Acequias Park/ el Parque de las Acequias
Acequia Madre Park
Acequie Madre del Rio Pueblo Park("Rio Pueblo Park")
"el Amanecer"/el Parque del Amanecer/Sunrise Park
Aztlan Park/el Parque de Aztlan
Battan Park
Black Hawk Park
Carson-Reyna Park
Central Park/Taos Central Park
Children's Park/Taos Chidren's Park
Children and Families Park/Taos Children and Families Park
"Cielo Azul"/Cielo Azul Park/ Blue Sky Park
Civic Plaza Park
Community Park/Taos Community Park/ Community Park for All
Constellations Park/el Parque de las Constelaciones de las Estrellas("las Estrellas" Park)
Cottonwood Park/el Parque de los Alamos
"Nuestras Culturas"/el Parque de Nuestras Culturas/ Park of Our Cultures
De Colores Park
Dog Shit Park It's for Whitc People
Duck Pond Park
el Ejido/ Ejido Park("el Ejido de Taos")
el Puente Park
Enchantment Park
"el Encuentro"/el Parque del Encuentro(s)/ Park of the Encouter(s)/"los Encuentros"
"las Flores"/el Parque de las Flores/ Park of the Flowers
Fuck Ballz Park
Generations Park/el Parque de las Generaciones/Generaciones Park
Golden Eagle Park
Greasy Grass Park
Suggested Names for the Park
Gypsy Boots Park
Harmony Park
Herencia Park/ Heritage Park
Hummingbird Park
Ian Park
el Jardin (de Taos)/The Garden ("Taos Garden")
el Jardin del Sol /The Sun Garden
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Park
Justice Park/el Parque de la Justicia
"la Puesta del Sol"/el Parque de la Puesta del Sol/Sunset Park
Leafy Park
Little Bear Park
Magpie Park
Mariposa Park
Middle of Town Park
Monte Visa Park/ Mountain View Park
(la) Morada Park
Mountain Shadow Community Park
ady of Guadalupe Park/ Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Park
Padre Martinez Park
Parquc de los Touristas
Paseo Park/el Paseo Park
Paso de las Almas
el Patio de Taos/The Taos Yard
el Patio del Sol/The Sun Yard
. Larkin Park
Peace Park/Taos Peace Park/Global Peace Park
Suggested Names for the Park
Peoples Park/Taos Peoples Park
Peregrine Park
Pinon Park
Plaza Park(Taos Plaza Park)
Po'Pay Park
Posuwaegeh (Tewa word meaning "water gathering place")
Querencia Park/el Parque de la Querencia (Our Beloved Space,Our Community Space)
Red Willow Park
Rocky Mountain Park
la Sala (de Taos)/the Living Room (Gathering Space)
Sangre de Cristo Park
Sangre de Cristo Valley Park
Shady Lane Park
Solar Capital of the World Park
Song Sparrow Park
Sun and Soul Park
Taos Mountain Park
Taos Park
Taos Family Park
Taos Public Park
The Green/The Taos Green
Teachers Park
The Lawn/The Lawns(of Taos)
The Meadow/The Meadows(of Taos) ("Taos Meadow")
The Park("The Park at Taos")
The Playground/el Parque de los Recreos
Tierra Madre Park/ Parque Tierra Madre/ Mother Earth Park
Tony Reyna Veterans Memorial Park
Town Park
Suggested Names for the Park
Town of Taos Public Park
Veterans Park
Victory Park
iladimir Lenin Peoples Park
World Cup Park
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P.O. BOX 1846 • TAOS, NEW MEXICO 87571 • (575)758-9593 • Fax(575) 758-4604
Town of Taos Renaming Committee
Board Members
October 23, 2025
Taos Pueblo Tribal Council — Statement on the Renaming of Kit Carson Park, the History
of the Taos Valley, and the Requirements of Sovereignty.
We are the Tiwa people of Taos Pueblo. This valley is not a place we occupy — it is who we
are. For over a thousand years our people have lived, worked, prayed, married, buried, and
been born in this landscape. Our songs remember the rivers; our prayers speak to the
mountains; our language names the springs. These are not metaphors. They are relations:
land that teaches, ancestors that walk beside us, responsibility that binds generations.
This statement is for all who would claim to understand Taos: municipal leaders, civic
committees, academics, neighboring tribal nations, and citizens who love this valley. We
speak now to correct assumptions, to center truth, and to declare the conditions under which
any change to our place-names, monuments, or public memory may proceed.
Who We Are —A People and a Place
We do not tell a story that begins with outsiders. Our story begins with the water and the
willow and the first ceremony. Taos Pueblo's Plaza, acequias, fields, and houses were placed
and maintained long before modern borders or land offices. Our governance, our kinship, and
our responsibilities to the land sustained a living community generation after generation.
We have always been part of a regional fabric that included other Indigenous nations — Dine,
Apache, Kiowa, Comanche, Arapahoe, Pawnee, and others. Those relationships were complex:
there were raids; there were alliances; there were trade routes and marriage ties. Over
centuries, practices shifted from conflict to trade, from raiding to negotiated commerce, from
war pathways to shared markets. But through every change, Taos Pueblo remained rooted
here. We were not removed. We did not have to return. Our continuity is attested in our
songs, in our ceremony cycles, and in our mothers' voices.
Taos Pueblo Tribal Council Decision to Town of Taos Renaming Committee October 23,2025
When Spain came, when Mexico claimed this territory, when the United States imposed new
borders and institutions, the Pueblo adapted in ways necessary to survive. We learned
Spanish words, adopted some practices, negotiated with new powers — all while guarding our
language, our ceremonies, and our land. The pressures were many: missions, taxes, new
laws, forced conversions, and later American policies that sought to assimilate and remove.
Yet we persisted. Our plaza stood. Our prayers were kept. Our children are raised in this
valley. Most recently our forefathers spoke on the Federal Level to address our ancestral
lands and their testimony defending our sovereignty against the United States Government in
the battle for the "Return of Blue Lake". That documentation serves as a written testimony to
what are elders stated during those hearings, and serves as a foundation in resilience.
The Meaning of"Unceded"and Sovereignty in Practice
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 overlay of municipal
boundaries and land grants must not erase that deeper fact. Sovereignty is not simply a line
on paper; it is woven into ceremony, decision-making, and the responsibilities we carry to the
next seven generations.
Respecting our sovereignty requires more than symbolic gestures. It requires actions that
change how decisions are made about places on our lands:
• Formal, public acknowledgment in language agreed to by Taos Pueblo Tribal
Government.
• Procedural commitments that place Taos Pueblo as lead in matters concerning our
places and cultural heritage.
• Protections for ceremonial access and cultural practices.
Sovereignty is not optional. It is the ground from which all legitimate conversations must
begin.
Why Names Matter — Memory, Law, and Responsibility
Names hold law and memory. 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. For generations,
colonial names and commemorations have honored conquest and masked suffering. This does
not teach history — it hides it.
Our Intertribal History and the Limits of Representation
We value the histories and voices of other nations. The region's history includes complex
interactions with Dine, Apache, Kiowa, Comanche, Arapahoe, Pawnee, and others. Those
histories include conflict, trade, negotiation, and shared pathways across the plains and
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Taos Pueblo Tribal Council Decision to Town of Taos Renaming Committee October 23,2025
mountains. Such interactions affected the valley. They shaped routes and stories. They taught
us how to adapt, how to defend, and how to trade.
But adaptation and respect do not mean surrendering our right to speak for our land. No
other nation has the authority to speak on behalf of Taos Pueblo. Other nations' solidarity
is welcome; representation is not. It is inappropriate for any tribe, organization, or individual
to assume voice for Taos Pueblo without our explicit invitation and consent.
The Present Problem — Procedural Erasure
The current renaming process has revealed the modern version of a familiar pattern:
committees, panels, and campaigns that appear inclusive but fail to center the living
sovereign people of the place they aim to change. Well-meaning actors — activists, scholars,
neighboring tribes, and municipal commissions — step forward and frame the narrative. They
speak of justice while leaving the original people on the margins. This procedural erasure
looks different than conquest by force but produces the same result: decisions made about us
without us.
We reject that process.
What Respect Must Look Like
To proceed with dignity,justice, and enduring recognition, we require the following actions
as conditions for moving forward with any renaming or reinterpretation of public spaces
within our landscape:
1. Formal Land Acknowledgment (Text &Ceremony)
The Town of Taos must adopt, in a form agreed to by Taos Pueblo Tribal Government,
a formal statement acknowledging that the lands in question are unceded Tiwa
territory. This acknowledgment must be public, recorded, and included in municipal
materials and digital presence.
2. Sovereign Leadership in Process
Taos Pueblo must lead the renaming process. Leadership means decision-making
authority over name selection, interpretive content, ceremonial protocol, and the
timelines for all public acts.
3. Tiwa-Led Interpretation and Education
All signage, materials, school curriculum components, and visitor resources about the
park and valley history must be developed and approved by Taos Pueblo.
4. Protection of Ceremonial Rights
The Town must formally recognize and protect our ceremonial calendar and access to
traditional spaces.
5. Restriction on Third-Party Representation
Other tribal nations, NGOs, academics, or organizations may provide support or
solidarity but shall not make unilateral public statements or take actions purporting to
represent Taos Pueblo. Any external efforts must receive prior written consent.
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Taos Pueblo Tribal Council Decision to Town of Taos Renaming Committee October 23,2025
6. Public Apology&Correction Plan
Where municipal or institutional practices have privileged outsider narratives or failed
to consult Taos Pueblo, the Town should issue a public corrective statement and
commit to correct interpretive materials and public records.
A Teaching to All —Inclusion vs. Centering
Inclusion without center is tokenism. Many actors use language of"including Native voices"—
but inclusion becomes meaningless if the people whose land is at stake remain peripheral. If
the Town wishes to be truly decolonial in practice, not only in words, it will yield authority. It
will let the sovereign people lead in how their land and memory are represented.
We invite allies to stand with us, but not to speak for us. Listen. Learn. Follow the leadership
of Taos Pueblo.
Council Determination and Direction
After full deliberation, prayer, and consultation within our community and governance
bodies, the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council issues this determination in our sovereign authority:
the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council supports the renaming of Kit Carson Park to "Red Willow
Park."
This support is an act of restoration and identity, not a concession. It affirms who we are —
the Red Willow People — and it asserts our right to name the land we continue to care for.
The Town of Taos and the Renaming Commission must meet the conditions laid out,
including a formal acknowledgment of unceded Tiwa land, full sovereign leadership in the
renaming process, Tiwa-led education and interpretation, protection of ceremonial access,
and clear restrictions on third-party representation.
To name this park"Red Willow Park"is not an act of erasure of historical facts. It is an act of
restoration. It places the Tiwa language and identity back into the public landscape where it
belongs. It tells the next generation: this land has a people who cared for it long before the
fort, long before the plaza became a tourist photo. It corrects the imbalance of public memory
and signals that the people who carry this place's life are present and leading.
Closing — We Are Here, We Will Remain
We are not a footnote. We are not a backdrop. We are Tiwa — the living people of Taos
Pueblo. This valley carries our memory, and our memory carries this valley. We do not yield
our voice to convenience, to academic framing, or to public relations.
We welcome true partnership grounded in respect and in the actual redistribution of
decision-making authority. We welcome citizens, neighbors, and friends who will listen and
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Taos Pueblo Tribal Council Decision to Town of Taos Renaming Committee October 23,2025
act accordingly. But make no mistake: we will assert our rights. We will protect our memory.
We will lead in our homeland.
Respectfully submitted and authorized by the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council.
With Respect,
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Edwin Concha, Matthew Montoya,
Governor, Taos Pueblo Lt. Governor, Taos Pueblo
Page 5 of 5
Suggested Names for the Park
Acequia Park/Acequias Park/el Parque de las Acequias
Acequia Madre Park
Acequie Madre del Rio Pueblo Park("Rio Pueblo Park")
"el Amanecer"/el Parque del Amanecer/Sunrise Park
Aztlan Park/el Parque de Aztlan
Battan Park
Black Hawk Park
Carson-Reyna Park
Central Park/Taos Central Park
Children's Park/Taos Chidren's Park
Children and Families Park/Taos Children and Families Park
"Cielo Azul"/Cielo Azul Park/Blue Sky Park
Civic Plaza Park
Community Park/Taos Community Park/Community Park for All
Constellations Park/el Parque de las Constelaciones de las Estrellas("las Estrellas"Park)
Cottonwood Park/el Parque de los Alamos
"Nuestras Culturas"/el Parque de Nuestras Culturas/Park of Our Cultures
De Colores Park
Dog Chit Park It's for Whitc Pcoplc
Duck Pond Park
el Ejido/ Ejido Park("el Ejido de Taos")
el Puente Park
Enchantment Park
"el Encuentro"/el Parque del Encuentro(s)/Park of the Encouter(s)/"los Encuentros"
"las Flores"/el Parque de las Flores/Park of the Flowers
luck Dallz Park
Generations Park/el Parque de las Generaciones/Generaciones Park
Golden Eagle Park
Greasy Grass Park
Suggested Names for the Park
Gypsy Boots Park
Harmony Park
Herencia Park/Heritage Park
Holt Park
Hummingbird Park
Ian Park
el Jardin(de Taos)/The Garden("Taos Garden")
el Jardin del Sol /The Sun Garden
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Park
Justice Park/el Parque de la Justicia
Kit Carson Park
"la Puesta del Sol"/el Parque de la Puesta del Sol/Sunset Park
Leafy Park
Little Bear Park
Magpie Park
Mariposa Park
Monte Visa Park/Mountain View Park
(la) Morada Park
Mountain Shadow Community Park
Our Lady of Guadalupe Park/ Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Park
Padre Martinez Park
Parque de los Touristas
Paseo Park/el Paseo Park
Paso de las Almas
el Patio de Taos/The Taos Yard
el Patio del Sol/The Sun Yard
Patrick Larkin Park
Peace Park/Taos Peace Park/Global Peace Park
Suggested Names for the Park
Peoples Park/Taos Peoples Park
Peregrine Park
Pinon Park
Plaza Park(Taos Plaza Park)
Po'Pay Park
Posuwaegeh(Tewa word meaning "water gathering place")
Querencia Park/el Parque de la Querencia (Our Beloved Space,Our Community Space)
Red Willow Park
Rocky Mountain Park
la Sala(de Taos)/the Living Room(Gathering Space)
Sangre de Cristo Park
Sangre de Cristo Valley Park
Shady Lane Park
Solar Capital of the World Park
Song Sparrow Park
Sun and Soul Park
Taos Mountain Park
Taos Park
Taos Family Park
Taos Public Park
The Green/The Taos Green
Teachers Park
The Lawn/The Lawns(of Taos)
The Meadow/The Meadows(of Taos) ("Taos Meadow")
The Park("The Park at Taos")
The Playground/el Parque de los Recreos
Tierra Madre Park/Parque Tierra Madre/Mother Earth Park
Tony Reyna Veterans Memorial Park
Town Park
Suggested Names for the Park
Town of Taos Public Park
Veterans Park
Victory Park
Vladimir Lenin Peoples Park
World Cup Park
•'1j NI F•��l
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting
The meeting will be held at the Town Council Chambers at 120 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos, NM
3:30 p.m.
1. Opening Items
A. Call to Order
B. Roll Call
C. Pledge of Allegiance
D. Approval of Agenda
E. Introduction of Items for the Committee
2. Citizens Forum
A. Citizens wishing to speak shall limit their comments to 5 minutes. Citizens may submit comments to Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald
at goswald@taosnm.gov. No action may be taken.
3. Consent Agenda -The items in the Consent Agenda have been reviewed by the Committee Chair,and the Chair has placed
these items on the Consent Agenda for the purpose of voting on all items with one vote. The items listed are for the
Committee's consideration and approval.
A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of September 25, 2025 Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Minutes. (Deputy
Town Clerk Miquela Mangum)
4. Presentations
A. Reflections on the invaluable opportunity to give a new name to our park - Dr. Christina Castro and Turquoise Chenoa Velarde
B. Presentation on preliminary name recommendations received from the public. (Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald)
5. Matters from the Committee
A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of a short list of names to present at the Town Council Special Meeting, November 17,
2025.
B. Preliminary discussion regarding the presentation of the short list of community-submitted name suggestions for the proposed renaming
of Kit Carson Park at the November 17, 2025 Town Council Special Meeting.
6.Adjourn