On Sept. 11, the Navajo Nation Tribal Council held a session in Window Rock, Ariz., on the current project of seeking full control over Canyon de Chelly, a historical canyon located in northeastern Arizona.

Canyon de Chelly was made a national monument 38 years ago, when the Navajo Nation petitioned Congress to add the canyon to the National Register of Historic Places.  Now, the Navajo Nation is looking to acquire Canyon de Chelly as its own.  

The canyon is located entirely on Navajo Tribal Trust Land, which is unique among Park Service units. About 80 Navajo citizens live in the canyon; they are descendants of those who returned to the canyon after the 1863 massacre by Kit Carson and his troops. The floor of the canyon is a restricted area, with visitors only able to view the canyon from its rim. 

Without a park ranger or Navajo guide, it is almost impossible to acquire a tour of the canyon.  

The canyon is an important place to the Navajo people, particularly the geological feature called Spider Rock, which is believed to be the birthplace of “Spider Grandmother,” a legendary Navajo figure responsible for the stars in the sky.

Some argue handing the canyon over to the Navajo Nation would be great for its people, protecting their resources and giving more jobs to Navajo citizens.

Aiyana, a member of the Navajo Nation, is an advocate of Navajo possession of Canyon de Chelly. She believes the monument will give the Navajo people cultural pride.

“The Canyon is very important,” Aiyana said. “It’s a very spiritual place, and if it belongs to the Navajo Nation, we will take good care of it. Canyon de Chelly is already on Navajo land, and it’s because of the Navajo people that the canyon is a national monument.”

The Navajo Council holds it is more able than ever to take control of the canyon and oversee its affairs.

“Owning the canyon would strengthen our community and remind us of our ancestors who lived there and took care of the canyon,” Aiyana said.

Many are against Navajo control over Canyon de Chelly, believing the Navajo Nation will not manage the canyon as well as National Parks Services is managing it now. Others disagree with the Navajo takeover because of the $1.8 million the Navajo Nation will receive from federal funding.  

One Flagstaff resident, who wished to stay unidentified, opposes the Navajo Nation takeover of Canyon de Chelly and said he feels the Nation is ill-equipped and unprepared to manage the park.

“I understand that the canyon is an important feature of the Navajo lands and of Navajo culture, but Park Services takes good care of the park, and I don’t think the Navajo have the resources to take care of such a large piece of land,” the unidentified resident said.

The canyon, spanning 83,000 acres and enveloping the floors of three major canyons (de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument), is one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes in North America and requires expert preservation because of the various artifacts, architecture and rock imagery.  

Aiyana feels the Navajo Nation has already proven they are able to manage the park, as the Navajo Tribal Council works with National Parks Services to maintain the canyon.  

A park ranger from Canyon de Chelly, who also wished to remain anonymous, understands concerns for the park’s high maintenance.

“We preserve thousands of artifacts,” the park ranger said. “Taking care of the canyon is a job for experts. It takes a lot of work, but it’s worth it to preserve culture and history.”

The decision of who manages the park will ultimately fall to the hands of Congress; thus far the tribal council’s legislation has no plan for park management and no timeline for transfer.