Learn more about the Nature Center at Pia Okwai name change

Names are an important part of how we know, relate to, and remember a place.

We are excited to share that the Nature Center at Pia Okwai is the name we’ll be using now to recognize the river along the nature center and the name it has always had. Pia Okwai, which means “big river/flow” in Newe Taikwa (the Shoshone and Goshute language), holds important collective memories for many of our Indigenous relatives of this place. It reminds us of the history of this river and the knowledge many local Indigenous groups hold about our environment that carries on today through language and culture.

As a community-based nature center, recognizing this name is one part of our efforts to be in good relations and learn from the first people of this place.

Why are we “The Nature Center at Pia Okwai” and not “Pia Okwai Nature Center?”

While we’re located along Pia Okwai, the river is much older than us and is also important for folks outside of our organization. Our use of this name recognizes the many ways that people relate to Pia Okwai, not just here but in other places along the river and on other bodies of water that share this name.

The decision to recognize our place along this river by using this name has been part of a longer process that we’ve engaged in over the past few years. The story of our name change includes many different steps, from doing research on the history of this place to recognizing local contexts of Indigenous politics, building relationships with urban Indigenous populations, receiving permission from the Utah Tribal Leaders, and getting approval from our board of directors.

We seek to have this change be not in name only, but a part of all of our actions as we grow. We’d love to hear any questions or suggestions you may have as we continue to do this work. And stay tuned for ways to get involved!