Photograph by Doug Dolde at Grand Canyon National Park in March, 2009
Public Domain, retrieved from Wikipedia
In the fall and winter of the year the Havasu 'Baaja people of the Grand Canyon roamed the upper platteau regions. The vast land providing good hunting and gathering of the food source provided by Mother Earth. In the spring and summer months they moved down to the canyou and planted the foods that would provide their families with the nutrition and sustenance the they needed. They cared for the land Creator gifted them with and they respected it. They were the Guardians of the Canyon.
The Havasu 'Baaja, People of the blue treen waters, people think of their land as sacred and draw their strength from it, respecting their natural resources. This provides spiritual guidance for the tribe and individual members. They have inhabited the canyon area for many centuries.
The Havasupai tribe still live in this startingly beautiful land carved by Nature. Havasu Canyon is now their permanent home, the blue waters and spectacular water falls is once again a breathtakingly beautiful part of their home.
The tribe today relies heavily on tourism. The tribal-run lodge, tourist office and cafe' provides jobs for tribal members.
In 1882 the federal government reduced the area of the Havasu 'Baaja to a mere 518 acres, taking away almost 90% of the home land. This forced the people to rely mostly on farming and seeking work outside the canyon in order to survive and provide for their families. The loss of their land and way of life was greatly mourned by the people.
The tribe did not give up on their sacred home land and by fighting back through the United States judicial system much of their land was restored to them. In 1975, 251,000 acres of their ancestral land was given back to the tribe by Congress. The hunting grounds were once again a part of the Havasupai home land. Havasu Canyon is now their permanent home, the blue waters and spectacular water falls a breathtakingly beautiful part of their way of life.
When non-native visitors began to discover and visit this profound wonder of Nature, the way of life for the tribe changed yet again. The tribe today relies heavily on tourism. The tribal-run lodge, tourist office, trading post, and cafe' provide jobs for tribal members. Members of the tribe also provide packing and guided trail tours on horseback.
The women of the tribe still weave beautiful baskets as their ancestors did, using cottonwood and willow. They practice the coil method of basketry and the coiled trays and bowls they make are recognized as a fine Native American art form. The baskets in the old days were made strictly for household use. Today, these beautiful baskets are available for purchase by tourists.
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