An unhappy occasion
Chaco Canyon park marks centennial, families recall dark history
By Cindy Yurth
Navajo Times
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(Special to the Times - Donovan Quintero)
Lester Begay, of Chaco Canyon, looks out to an area where as a child he played and herded sheep. The area was designated as a national park on March 11, 1907. Last Saturday, about 150 DinŽ gathered to tell tales of being forcibly moved to make way for Chaco Culture National Historic Park.
This year marks a century that Chaco Culture National Historic Park has been in existence, preserving thousand-year-old ruins and interpreting them for visitors from all over the world.
And, some would argue, oppressing local Navajos.
About 150 Navajos gathered Saturday just outside the park boundary to share stories of their experiences with the park. They told of forcible evictions from their homes, not being allowed to collect medicinal herbs in the park, and being denied such amenities as paved roads in the name of historical preservation.
"Emma," a Navajo from Chaco Canyon who asked that her real name not be used because of ties to the National Park Service, calls March 11, 1907, "a tragic day."
That's the day President Theodore Roosevelt signed the park into existence. But in reality, she said, the Navajos' troubles started long before that - in 1895, to be exact. That's the year rancher and amateur archeologist Richard Wetherill first rode into the area.
Captivated by the ancient ruins, Wetherill and his wife - the daughter of the first tourists Wetherill brought in to see the ruins - spent their summers at Chaco in a tent.
In 1898, they built a permanent home almost adjacent to the largest ruin, Pueblo Bonito, on land several Navajo families used for grazing, according to Emma.
Wetherill opened a trading post and hired some local people to help with his archeological expeditions, causing a schism in the community.
"We had always been taught to avoid areas where you found pottery shards," explained Emma, for fear of disturbing the spirits of the ancient people who had lived at Chaco. "Now here was this white man hiring Navajos to dig up their artifacts, even their bones."
In his 2005 revision of "People of Chaco," a history he first published in 1986, Kendrick Frazier writes that "all evidence indicates that Richard was fair in his dealings with the Navajo."
He must not have asked the locals. Emma says oral history among the Diné families of Chaco recounts a headstrong man who treated his Navajo employees as "little more than slaves" and offended their sensibilities by displaying Anasazi bones at his trading post.
Wetherill reportedly settled his Navajo customers' debts by spiriting off their livestock and, according to Emma, at one point claimed "every horse in Chaco belonged to him."
Finally the locals had had enough, and a Navajo named Chischilly Biyé (Son of Curly Hair) shot Wetherill to death on June 22, 1910.
Locals weigh in
Frazier calls Wetherill's death "a sudden and still inexplicable act," but Emma says there was nothing sudden or inexplicable about it.
Wetherill and Chischilly Biyé had been feuding over horses for months, and Biyé shot the trader in the heat of an argument, she said.
Biyé reportedly turned himself in to the nearest Indian agent after the murder and explained exactly what had happened. He served a prison sentence and was later released.
"Our side of the story is never told," Emma complained. "Nobody ever even asks us."
While white historians portray Biyé as the cold-blooded killer of one of the West's most dedicated archeologists, he's something of a folk hero to the locals.
"Everyone was afraid of Mr. Wetherill," Emma said. "Chischilly Biyé stood up to him. He was a brave man."
But if the Diné thought Wetherill's death would solve their problems, they were wrong.
According to Emma, the Park Service started a systematic evacuation of the Navajos from within the park boundaries that lasted until 1947. Some families were offered houses outside the park, but Emma says others weren't compensated at all.
Wetherill's descendants, on the other hand, were paid for the land they had so recently homesteaded.
"If you visit Chaco today, you won't find any evidence of Navajos," Emma said. "They've torn down every hogan."
The only sign that the land once belonged to Navajos is in the names of some of the ruins: Kin Bineola, Kin Kletso, Tsin Kletsin - but most tourists don't know these are Navajo names.
The only good Indian...
Emma said the Diné of Chaco might be willing to forget past wrongs, except that they're still going on. She accuses the Park Service of rallying national environmental groups to resist paving the roads in the Chaco area, leaving the local Navajos without good access to neighboring towns and health care facilities.
Ervin Chavez, a San Juan County commissioner who has family ties to Chaco, agrees.
Chavez said in 1995 the county was granted $900,000 in federal funding to chip-seal County Road 7950, which runs from New Mexico 550 to the park.
"We had paved about five miles of it when all of a sudden a group of park employees and environmentalists objected," Chavez said. "We were shocked.
"We thought we were doing the Park Service a great favor as well as improving a main arterial road into a community that desperately needed it," he said.
The Park Service asked for an environmental impact assessment, which the county is presently undertaking.
"Those things are really expensive," Chavez said. "My main worry is that we'll spend all the money on the assessment and not have any left to pave the road."
Meanwhile, Chavez said, the commission is getting barraged by e-mails from all over the country urging it not to pave the road.
"I have e-mails in my box from Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, Minnesota ... all parts of the U.S., telling me they like the road the way it is," Chavez said. "It really doesn't make sense. These people visit the park once a year at the most. Meanwhile the people in my district have to drive on unpaved roads every day and tear up their vehicles."
Chaco Culture National Historic Park superintendent Barbara West, on the other hand, says it's a misconception that the Park Service is opposed to paving the road.
"We just really want to be involved in a program of environmental analysis," she said. "A paved road would encourage visitation, and we're just not set up for a large increase in the number of visitors. We have our own water system, our own wastewater system, and a dramatic increase in visitation would have a pretty huge impact on our facilities."
Besides, she said, "The Navajos are not the only tribe that has an interest in Chaco. We want to make sure everyone has a chance to participate in the process."
As for the Navajos' recent centennial commemoration, West said she didn't hear about it until after the fact.
"All I know is what I read in the newspapers," she said. "I'm really sorry folks are holding on to old hurts, although it's perfectly understandable ... The thing to remember is that not everybody is angry. We have Navajos on our staff who are fourth-generation park employees and are very supportive of the park."
But to Emma, the park amounts to a celebration of dead Indians while the living, breathing ones are "invisible."
"People come from all over the place to learn about the Anasazi," she said. "Well, what about us? We're still here. Don't we deserve to live in the same conditions as other Americans?"
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44 comments (You may comment on this week's top news feature here.)View previous comments:
Why you all b---ing, like your opinion matters.
Posted by dine yazhe on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 23:03pm | #169
THE DINE NATION HAS GONE TO HELL! OUR PRESIDENT HAS TOOK US THERE. HE AND HIS LITTLE DEVILS PAWNED/DEALT OUR LIVES, LANDS, BELIEFS, ALL THAT WE STAND FOR AT THE CROSSROADS WITH THE DEVIL! HE IS SUCH A GREEDY BASTARD! HE NEEDS TO TAKEN OUT OF OFFICE! WHY DO YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND YOUR GREEEDY POSSE IN OFFICE THINK YOU DESERVE THESE SO CALL 5K RINGS?! WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? IS IT OUR MONEY THAT YOU SPEND SO HAPPILY? TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR SITUATION...STEP DOWN IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE US AS A NATION. I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT ITS ABOUT TIME WE LET A "LADY" TAKE OFFICE. WE CAN HANDLE ORDER, BALANCE, AND WE ARE KNOWN TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL THINGS. MR. DINE NATION PRESIDENT I HOPE YOU READ THIS AND PLEASE DON'T CANCEL ANY MEETINGS BECAUSE OF MY RESPONSE TO YOUR STUPIDITY! PEOPLE!OF MY TRIBE PRAY FOR WHATS RIGHTFULLY OURS AND LET BE KNOWN....
Posted by viciousmedicine on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 20:32pm | #166
We Dine continue to be underminded by the Anglos, they have failed to do what they promised and will continue to do so. They don't provide roads so they can sell you vehicles every other year or come to their shop to fix or do maintenance on it. The same with water, electricity, and houses. the build homes cheap that do not last, water?? what happened to that? This is a constant denial of the government but yet they focus on other countries like Iraq, Africa, and so forth but have failed to look after those that they tried to slaughter and stole the land from. think about that.
Posted by Marilene Begay on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 17:11pm | #165
It is a good thing that our Dine' in that part of the Navajo Country (Chaco Canyon) stood up to share the Navajo history and to make known the tragic experiences endured by our people. Too many believe that unfair treatment by the Government stopped just after "The Long Walk." Wrong!!! It continued just like what happened next to Dine' of Chaco Canyon. And it continues today. Why do you think the Gov't has the prohibition law for harassment, unfair treatment, discrimination, hostility, etc. - because it continues and to basicly act like it cares when it really doesn't.
And for the Navajo employees at Chaco, they have no other alternatives for jobs. So they take risk to satisfy the anglo dominant employment setting. They risk by walking across a wash with high flowing water, crawl through severe muddy conditions whether they make it through or not, willing to allow their vehicle overturn on muddy and snow conditions only to affect increase in insurance premiums, and pay additional cost to maintain their vehicle, blow a transmission or an engine, etc. to make the gov't happy and in hopes to receive an award.
Yes our land is lovely and beautiful, but that doesn't mean the local Navajo community have to suffer with hardship in this 21st century.
Yes, we respect all Native American Tribes, their culture and their traditions. Dine' of Chaco Canyon is speaking about their community in which they live in.
Posted by Dine' of Chaco Canyon on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 05:19am | #164
I lived on the Navajo reservation without the convenience of the basic amenities. A paved road was finally constructed near us ten years ago. It was a world of improvement and bettered our quality of life. Running water was introduced a few years later and raised us out of squalor. Slowly, our living standards are being raised to acceptable levels.
We persevere through all obstacles and make do with what we are given. Denying the residents a paved road is keeping such obstacles in place.
Infrastructure or the lack thereof, is one of many issues facing us. Education is another and bears standing its own thread.
Posted by Mr. Goodman on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 04:38am | #163
I am Dine' and grew up in the area, my great grandfather lived around kimbeto. The roads back then were not paved and we had no problem driving to his hogan on dirt road except during the winter/rainy weather, had to put them mud tires on. The locals who live in the area are the ones who should have a say in what kind of road they want. Why are we worrying about roads on Navajo land, we should be focusing on education.
Posted by Carolyn G on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 03:58am | #162
I read three sources in this article. Ms. Yurth's writing on Dine' culture and issues are informative and often interesting. It matters not what ethnicity she is. These stories would have gone untold and we would be none the wiser.
Posted by Billy G. on Thursday, 09.6.07 @ 00:14am | #161
Sure seems funny that reporter Cindy Yurth, who is white, seems to be spending lots of solo time with Ervin Chavez...doesn't she know how to report better from a variety of sources?
Posted by Anne on Wednesday, 09.5.07 @ 23:25pm | #160
A road already exists there. Whether or not it is paved is irrelevant to how the environment is harmed. The damage has already been made. A properly engineered paved road will reduce: the dusty rooster tails, repetitive maintenance, and weather caused damages. If increased patronage is the NPS' concerns, they should set quotas on the number of visitors to the ruins. They do so at other monuments and parks, why would the ruins be any different? If this is an issue, charge more for access and use the revenue to build an infrastructure to accomodate your visitors.
Posted by Billy G. on Wednesday, 09.5.07 @ 22:07pm | #159
The world needs more people like Lone Eagle.
Posted by garbanzo on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 19:03pm | #156
garbonzo,
Those questions you asked are for the people who live there to answer.
Lone Eagle
Posted by Lone Eagle on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 18:56pm | #155
To honor the Creator and His handiwork simply means to take care of the land He has allowed us to live on during our short journey we make here upon this earth. Not ruin or spoil the beauty He made. Keep all things in harmony and balance.
Why do you think there's so much cancer, stress and stress related diseases, depression and depression related illnesses? Things are out of balance here on this earth!
Lone Eagle
Posted by Lone Eagle on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 18:53pm | #154
Right on, Dine' in South Dakota!
I just moved from South Dakota last March and have worked on many reservations all over the country myself. It's so sad that the tribal governments have become just as corrupted as other governments in many instances.
What happens on Navajo land should be determined by the people who live there and not outsiders who don't even have a clue what's going on.
Don't let outsiders ruin your land!
Keep on keepin' on! Don't give up and don't give in!
Lone Eagle
Posted by Lone Eagle on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 18:46pm | #153
What does it mean to honor the Creator and his handiwork?
What does it mean to be a traditional Dine in this day and age?
Are there no alternatives to the white man's way of over-development?
SB
Posted by sagebandit on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 18:04pm | #152
I agree with Lone Eagle. It is up to us Dine to say is right and wrong. But we can not leave it up to our goverment (tribal offical) to say if it is right. It is us that (none officals) to stand up and say what is right for us. I have traveled through so many reservation across the states of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Neveda, Montana, Utah, South Dakota, and Colorado. I have seen what the states, goverment, tribal officals has done to their reservations.
yeah it will bring tourists and maybe money. but where would we use that at. how would it be used. look at Monument Valley, we have people (tourists and our own people) speed on those paved road causing too many accident. and plus our tribal police are too busy out there sleeping or messing around so who is watching them roads or who will watch them road (pave roads).
keep our Dine Nation (reservation) as it is. it is beautiful to see things natural and not being destroyed by construction. we got to save our trees and other wild life, plants from being destroyed.
But who is going to do something about it, no one because it will be giving to our tribal government to decided and your know them council men/women... greed all they thing of themselves and not the people who voted for them.
Posted by Dine in South Dakota on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 17:30pm | #151
As usual, a false dichotomy is being set up between Native Americans and environmentalists.
What about Native American environmentalists?
Does Dine Care have a postion on the issue?
Are there no Hopi environmentalists?
Is there no way to improve the lives of the people in the area without turning Chaco into another Mesa Verde?
Posted by garbanzo on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 16:25pm | #150
I lived and worked in Gallup for a time and visited the park while I was there. It is awesome! What imrpessed me most was the solitude and being able to be in a place where I could be alone with the Creator and his handiwork there. There aren't many places like that left anymore.
I feel it should be left up to the Native People of that area whether or not they want the road paved. However, being of Cherokee decent, and a native of East Tennessee, and growing up in the area of the Great Smoky Mountains, I saw how the "improvement of roads" ruined the beauty and solitude I knew of that area when I was a child. Now, you can't stir the tourists with a stick because they are so thick. The opening of "Dollywood" and other tourists attractions also ruined the sleepy little mountain towns of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and all the way back through Sevierville, Tennessee, on one side of the mountains, and also ruined the Cherokee Reservation on the other side. Is this what you really want?
I tell you as a friend, and one who has experienced the ruination of his own homeland, to really think about this and pray about it before you act.
Still, it should be your decision.
May the Creator guide you and bless you so that the right thing be done that is best for you and all the Dine' around the Chaco area.
Lone Eagle
Posted by Lone Eagle on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 16:21pm | #149
I believe THE NAVAJO NATION SHOULD BUILD PAVED ROADS FOR TOWNS THAT HAVE THE WORST DIRT ROADS. AND WE SHOULD ALL LEARN FROM OUR DINE HISTORY DONT TRUST THE WHITE EYEZ THEY CANT BE TRUSTED NO MORE,TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHITE MANZ EDUCATION AND TAKE THEIR WHITE MONEY. NDN PRIDE
Posted by TY on Tuesday, 09.4.07 @ 06:58am | #148
Thank you for the awesome front page and article about the land. Im glad I still have internet,and am ready to stay in my apartment from this moment on.
I dont even have to empty my trash...I am voluntarily going to try to br humble,and stay locked in my apartment until Jathe day after Janmastami(Lord Krishnas BIrthday,which happens to be the day after LABOR DAY IN AMERICA>....My sons are on a camping trip,they will be back on ???????
Their school starts septempers,this coming wednesday.IM glad you guys have a lot of land in Arizona.....
Posted by Ramona Sanchez on Monday, 09.3.07 @ 08:27am | #147
I am a New Englander so do not even live there. But I have been through and around that beautiful land many years ago while travelling. As far as I am concerened that land belongs to the Navajo. The Native people of this country have received the shaft from the get so and it is so sad. Wishing you all the best.
Posted by A Yankee on Sunday, 09.2.07 @ 23:53pm | #146
Where are the Navajo leaders?
Posted by IND from Gallup on Sunday, 09.2.07 @ 18:08pm | #145
As I sit in traffic on paved roads in Pennsylvania I long to be in your part of the country. Your land is so beautiful.I only wish our schools spent time on your problems so more people would have a better understanding of what is going on.Good luck on the road project.
Posted by LEXY on Sunday, 09.2.07 @ 04:49am | #144
I had sex with my girl at the canyon...
Posted by Navajo G - String on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 20:28pm | #143
It is sad to see that the ancient one has left to see us argue about roads, who really has ties to the chaco canyon, who owns the land, and the rest will be history again. The debate should be about how we can improve the area with roads, running water and electricity. Looking at 15 to 20 years from now "who is going to use those roads, are the younger generation still going to be living in those housing that got the running water and electricity?" If the government took the land from the people and then how are we going to get it back to the people. If we really want to benefit from this we must work together and come up with a solution. I understand how bad those roads get when they muddy and during winter months. I have hitchhike those roads and drove those roads. Also we need to clean up all those broken bottles and trash on the side of the road. We can make something out of it. The more we disagree with each other its another opportunity miss. I'm currently in Iraq with the US Army and I see alot of dirt roads and buildings that reminds me of home. So dirt roads are stil being used around the world. Pave roads can also mean crazy drivers on the road. We need to stop depending on the system and motivate ourselve to help each other. we all live under the same sun and the earth. Our time here on earth is short and lets make the best of it. Chaco canyon belongs to everybody (five finger people). Yeah! Racism exist everywhere and it is part of social responsiblity to educate other people about racism when it comes up. As Dine we need to stop being so hateful towards other people. If they don't understand you a good opportunity to educate them. Thank you!
Posted by Frank Sage on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 11:02am | #141
You know what folks,who cares who was here first. We all need to look out for our People "Red Skins", "Natives", what else are we call "American Indian". We all know who we are and what we stand for. We know our culture and traditions so, being that we are Native didn't our elders teach us that we are one people with 10 fingers, 10 toes, and our blood runs thrun our body the same color (I think). If anyone was smart without being ignorant they would look out for the well being for our native people. Besides the land has always been there and will always be there regardless. Good-Luck...............
Posted by Shonto rez-woman on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 09:26am | #140
Dear Pueblo Man, you sound so angry at the Navajos. Why do you read the Navajo Time? Your people do not have any juicy stories? I hate to burst your bubbles but Navajo have a lot of ties through inter-tribal relationships. There are quite a few clans that originated from the pueblo people. So its difficult to say anything nasty about your people. Peace
Posted by Native Spirit on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 05:34am | #139
I meant to say the Executive Order was signed on March 10, 1905.
Posted by Spicey on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 05:10am | #138
When you read the history of US Government and the Native Americans, it's a disgrace. As Natives, we should support each other because at one time we were all forcibly evicted from our homelands. When you read the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887, it states the lands were legally recorded to the Navajos between 1903 and 1922. President Roosevelt signed the Executive Order on March 10, 2005 and later withdrew for correction on May 15 because the lands that were recorded were rich in gas and oils. Later another part of the Section Four of 1887 Dawes Act was edited again for Navajo to gain control of lands containing water holes. Unfortunately, the white ranchers discovered the artesian water in Chaco and become very interested. The white ranchers forcibly took our lands. In 1907, a large area of lands were restored to the white ranchers. This included the Pueblo Bonito Reservation. The Chaco Canyon National Park was established in 1907. This became a big conflict and as a result the Navajos in Chaco Canyon have suffered. On January 11, 1911, President William H. Taft returned the Pueblo Bonito area to the public domain. Where were the Indian Agent or Commissioner for Indian Affairs? From this short history, you can read the ineffective US Government leadership regarding the Navajos and their lands. The US Government has made the Natives to be against another Natives to completely destory us. So, lets positively support each other. In 1919, twelve thousands acres including Chaco Canyon were bought back with the federal monies but wasn't given back to the Navajos. The US Government didn't provide any answers to why the Navajos didn't get their lands back so it perfectly understandable why we expressed our hurts through this past event of the Commomeration. With that, it's a possibility that Executive Orders and other laws pertaining to the Natives and lands can be investigated further.
Posted by Spicey on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 02:37am | #137
" The Navajo were recent invaders to that area."
And the white people who control it now? ? ?
Posted by JHLee on Saturday, 09.1.07 @ 00:11am | #136
That is such a poor response. The Navajo were recent invaders to that area. Any cultural affilation they have is by proximity, not by participation. Their claim to any heritage is not supportable by any evidince. However, I do agree the paving is necessary.
Posted by Pueblo man on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 21:19pm | #135
Navajo people do have cultural affiliation with Chaco Canyons and all of the Chaco Great Houses. Even the National Park Service has acknowledged this fact.
The Navajo families who lost their land and homes most certainly should be allowed back onto their old homelands and their claim to the land is still valid and concrete.
Paving of the road to the park is necessary. All work must be in compliance with cultural resource management laws and any reasonable and thinking official could meet all obligations under the law with a minimum of difficulty. Unfortunately, that is not the way it ever works with here on the Navajo Nation nor with the National Park Service. The approval for the road should not be the problem it has become, the approval should have been granted with limited interference and concern.
The ruins of Chaco Canyon have endured for a thousand years and the ruins will be here long after we are all gone. To say that the park infrastructure cannot handle an increased amount of visitors is not a supportable respons.
Posted by Larry on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 19:38pm | #134
The Navajo were invaders to the land. Chaco Canyon is not their heritage. Even the word Anasazi,is an insulting word to Pueblos. It is a Navajo word that means ancient enemies. The Navajo don't belong to or on that land.
Posted by Pueblo man on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 19:05pm | #133
Let Chaco rest in peace !! The Di'ne' to my knowledge never dug up bones of people before them. What can be more sacred than a live human being? People that are living should be more important to preserve and those who came before us still need to be respected. I am pretty certain that our elders in 1907 understood this. This man that came along seem to have did what he did to only better himself with little regard to the life that was flourishing around this sight. The spirit of of those who lived at Chaco before them were probably happy that life continued to exist on their homeland. Peace be with you all!
Posted by Native Spirit on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 19:01pm | #131
why do people do what they do like take away land
from there own people that's just wrong. where is our dine people going mad like we navajo people killing eachother thats just stuip we don't even know where we come from or what we as dine people went through mom's dad's don't even teach there kids there clains any more like here where i go to school, i see that i go to school at chinle high school this year well be my last year so yeah well i see other thing to like these kids are all dress weard they don't even know thw to dress what is they call it punk rock or heavy meatle something like that so yeah back when i was in like 5th gread i never seen that so now it just all over syo yeah well that's all i have to say
Posted by tyran D yazzie on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 18:23pm | #130
Hi my great grandfather is Chischilly Biye(son of curly hair) and proud of him, not only for taking a stand for what he believes in but making a difference by terminating another crooked man. Way to go grandps!!
Posted by Milz on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 12:16pm | #129
Linda,
don't get me wrong, I appreciate the NPS's efforts to preserve history and ensure some degree of understanding to the past, but the remarks made by Barbs were uncalled for to local residents. If Barbs is concerned of lack of resources to accomodate increased visitation, then that is the NPS's problem not local residents. The Navajo people are in a battle with the States, corporate industry, and are faced with a cultural war with a broad spectrum of both an uncaring American public and foreign interests, i.e. illegal immigrates. You need to witness and study the prevailing attitudes of professional educators, and corporate industry representatives of how they are telling Navajo people what is best for the Navajo Tribe. Case in point, the battle over the San Franciso Peaks, and the Colorado River Water Compacts. I accept the attitudes of those beyond the Navajoland confines, but to have this attitude as stated by Barbs within the 4-sacred mountains about local residents is just plain wrong! Barbs needs to retract her comments to replace her condescending tone. The romance of the Dineh is wonderful, but when is the Dineh collectively going to start fighting back, it should at least begin within our homes.
Posted by Tom on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 07:40am | #128
As a former employee with the National Park Service, I see their paternalistic and bureaucratic thoughts have not changed. I quit the Park Service at the bottom of the Grand Canyon when so-called learned people would not stop desecrating the holy site at the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers. I tried to tell them they were desecrating a holy place and then told them they were trespassing since the area is on Navajoland. They all laughed at the concept of something being holy. Sick of them I hiked up Lipon Point, refusing to spend even another few days with such fools. In a twisted way the lack of culture among some of the bilagaanas, and no deep connection to this land, has allowed for some sad words and actions by a few. I feel sorry for those scientists that cannot understand what can be holy, I feel sorry for this woman that cannot see or understand history if it is not to her liking. We should pray that these people learn meaning in life beyond their small ways and work.
Posted by Ivan Gamble on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 07:23am | #127
Chaco Canyon will always be our roots, our stories/songs/prayers, our land and our history. That will never be changed. Yes, the government has marked it as a historic park for the people from all over to world to visit, but it's only in that official designated boundary line. The land outside the park belongs to the Navajo people and they have rights to live comfortably with paved road, electricity and domestic water for ther household. If the park wants to save the ruins then they should have the visitors walk on foot including the employees once they get into the entrance and park their vehicles there. The park has already changed the entrance into the park from the South rim to the East side which is a approximately 20 miles. The commemoration was only the beginning of healing. Yes, we the Dineh', the spiritual people, the Navajo people, the First Americans and the Survivors! May the Great Spirit continue to protect and guide us.
Posted by Spicey on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 05:50am | #126
Thank you Tom for your comments. You said a "mouthful". Navajo land is Navajo land. Chaco Canyon is beautiful. As for 4th generation Navajo employees who work at the park.Have no other alternative. Jobs are so scarce in Navajoland. Too bad there isn't alot of Navajo names or more info about Navajo history that etc. Another tribe being "outsourced" in this past 100 and something years...
Posted by Linda on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 04:24am | #125
My initial reaction to this article was one of understanding and appreciation for the NPS and their efforts into protecting and preserving artifacts.
However, my beef is condescending tone to Chaco Culture National Historic Park superintendent Ms. Barbara West, "I'm really sorry folks are holding on to old hurts, although it's perfectly understandable ... The thing to remember is that not everybody is angry...." How condescending and insensitive in her remarks to community members and Navajo people! Such statements are typical for most border towns, but to read such words as an official government representative. She obviously doesn't care for the history to the Park, nor does she appreciate the Navajo interests into the Park unless of course in my opinion, your a minion or peon - 4th generation to be precise.
Barbs doesn't want increased visitation to the NPS park and it's established boundaries, yet Barb's has the audacity from being naive on the basis of her 'edujukation' to state what is in the best interest for the Navajo Tribe particularly when this NPS is WITHIN the confines of Navajoland!
Barb's effort to clarify the NPS opposition to the road project was accomplished, however, by relying on her 'knowledge' of artifacts and relics and graves based on advanced 'edjukation', she has only muddled and de-consecrated those who are living.
And this is what my federal taxes are paying for, an advanced moron telling ME, NPS Chaco Canyon of which THEY earn a living, is none of my business on my land. SHAME ON YOU Barbs!
Posted by Tom on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 03:14am | #124
When our ancestors lived there they had no paved road and were just fine, we are spoiled by today's society that we no longer respect our past. Just as they talk about digging up bones they will be disrupting the environment by establishing a paved road so we can all drive fast on. If this happens we may loose some of those native plants that we deem important to our culture. Just leave the environment the way it is!!
Posted by AZ NDN on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 00:45am | #122
Any relation to Cory Witherill? Different spelling, I know, but maybe.
Indians and environmentalists are not the same thing. Outsiders like to get that confused.
Unfortunately, Chaco has been declared. Therefore, the Park Service gets to determine what the best way to protect this site is.
All that said, despite our cultural teachings, there are still plenty of instances of Indians defacing ancient artifacts.
Until we can stand on our own two feet, maybe it isn't such a bad thing that the park service is protecting it.
Posted by Jeremy on Friday, 08.31.07 @ 00:22am | #120
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Posted by Far From the Rez Now on Thursday, 08.30.07 @ 22:50pm | #117
pave the damn road and name it after Chischilly Biyé (Son of Curly Hair)
Posted by John William Begay on Thursday, 08.30.07 @ 22:41pm | #115