Beyond the Red Rocks: Discovering Sedona’s Living Indigenous Heritage
Published July 2, 2025
Native nations most tied to the Sedona region are the Yavapai Apache Nation and the Hopi. Their relationship to this land isn’t historic. It’s current, everyday, and visible.
Museums That Teach With Integrity
In Flagstaff, the Museum of Northern Arizona focuses on Indigenous art and regional archeology. Their summer schedule sometimes includes the Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture, a rare moment to meet Hopi artists in one place.
In Sedona, the Sedona Heritage Museum is small, quieter, and personal. Be sure to check their website for featured exhibits and upcoming events.
Heritage Sites With Clear Guardrails
V Bar V Heritage Site protects one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in the U.S. Southwest, created by the Sinagua. You’ll view them from behind barriers because the rock surface is protected.
Palatki Heritage Site and Honanki Heritage Site require reservations, limit group sizes, restrict photography, and prohibit wall contact.
The rules:
Stay in designated viewing areas
No touching walls, carvings, or dwellings
Photography is controlled by staff and signage
Reservations are required, always
Follow directions exactly as given on-site.
Buying Art Without Buying Appropriation
Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village is one of the better places to meet actual makers, but commerce here still deserves a critical eye.
A real artist can answer:
Who taught them
Where the material is sourced
What the symbols mean
Why they made it
Lodging That Matches the Mindset
Pop Art Villa residences in Sedona are intentionally quiet, spacious, and useful as a home base. Centrally located in a quiet residential neighborhood, Pop Art Villa provides both comfort and convenience for exploring Sedona.
Before You Travel Here
Just a few key reminders prior to visiting any of the heritage sites in Sedona:
Reserve protected heritage sites before you arrive
Follow all photo and access restrictions exactly
Buy from authentic makers
Ask questions you’re genuinely curious about
Stay present
Sedona’s red rock landscape gets the attention, but the real depth comes from the people, art, and traditions still connected to this region today.