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Navajo Beautyway
CULTURE & HISTORY
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Navajo Beautyway
NAVAJO BEAUTYWAY
Diné (Navajo) philosophy is epitomized by the phrase “Walk in Beauty” from the sacred prayer, the Blessing Way. Aspiring to that spirit, we enter deep into Navajoland, learning of the intricacies and beauty of traditional Navajo philosophy amidst the diversity of tribal cultures within the region. This special experience takes you on a remarkable journey through time and the essence of human emotion, framed by the natural wonders that make the Navajo Nation like no other place on earth. We will begin near the place of emergence, where the Diné entered into this, the Glittering World, the House Made of Dawn, and view, respectfully, physical features of the earth that are as one with the Holy Ones, as we begin to appreciate that Navajo spiritual narratives identify specific places on earth where the sacred occurred, which, when placed in context, undermines the ethnocentric mantra of “myths and legends.”
“I hope to God you will not ask me to go to any other country except my own,” Navajo leader, Barboncito, impressed upon the Fort Sumner treaty negotiators in 1868. On this journey you will begin to understand why. The tragedy of the Long Walk and Bosque Redondo comes into stark focus beside the path of beauty weaved throughout the Navajo Nation. We follow that path into Tse Bii Ndzisgaii, Monument Valley, the “eighth wonder of the world,” and learn of the immense power and significance of Tse Bii Ndzisgaii in Diné culture, and soon realize that Monument Valley is much more than a landscape associated with hundreds of Hollywood Westerns. We will venture to Antelope Canyons on Lake Powell, where Diné interpreters will guide you through these “natural cathedrals,” the incredible sandstone slot canyons sculpted by wind and rain that take you “to the entryway of nature’s spirit.
The mysterious Bisti Badlands, Painted Desert, Shiprock, and the superb Navajo Nation interactive museum are all en-route before we reach the capital of the Navajo Nation, Window Rock, and discover what the amazing rock formation for which the town is named represents. Near Ganado, at the Hubbell Trading Post, we step back in time. The Navajo called Don Lorenzo Hubbell “Naakaii Saani,” or “Double Glasses,” and this 1870s trading post has withstood the onslaught of time; to step inside is to step back into the 19th century. The post boasts an excellent array of Southwest Indian art, particularly by Navajo and Hopi artisans, and the trading post retains an active barter system, so Hubbell is a venue to make a trade. Enveloped by Diné Bikeyah, the sacred Navajo homeland, the Beauty-way Chant doesn’t just come to mind, it comes to life, as we reach our last destination. We are on the edge of Canyon de Chelly, a natural wonder that not only holds the sacred, but also history and pain. In our two days at the canyon we will discuss each aspect. After an extensive tour of the canyon rim you will have the option of hiking into the canyon to witness the 11th Century proto-Hopi complex known as White House Ruin, following in the footsteps of the Old Ones as we experience the ruin and petroglyphs adorning the canyon walls, every ancient pueblo in Canyon de Chelly being a step towards understanding the Hopi and Pueblo civilizations throughout this spectacular world of natural red rock sculptures. Tsegi, where the past, present and future become forever.
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Go Native America is a member of / promoted by:
American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Alliance
Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance
American Indian Crafts Assoc.
Wyoming Travel and Tourism
Rocky Mountain International RMI Real America
Black Hills Badlands Association
Tour Members Say...
The sights, sounds, smells and sheer wonderment at the beauty of all directions has been with us ever since our return. Not a day goes by without our talking of some aspect of our adventure, and at night I am transported to those stunning plains and mountains, and the people we met. Gretchen, North Wales
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Indigenous Wisdom
If you look at the earth, there are certain places that seem to have power and we don't know what kind of power it is, except you have a different feeling, You feel energized... For most Americans, the Holy Land exists on another continent. But for Native people,
the holy land is here.
Vine Deloria Jr.
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National Geographic
Go Native America is included in National Geographic Traveler's "50 Tours of a Lifetime"
Oct 23 - 31
2010 Journeys
to receive the full itinerary and plenty of general trip information
Past Tour Members Say...
This company has the best attitude ever on responsibility towards tribal people and their ways. No voyeurism in sight! You feel so welcome, in a respectful environment.
I researched tours to Indian Country but several used sweat lodges as a selling point. Having been on Lakota Moon, I now understand why ceremonies should be totally off limits to any company that calls itself responsible. We traveled huge distances and experienced so much we couldn’t have done solo. We met amazing people, with huge hearts; it was like being on a mini life-journey all in two weeks. AG, Sacramento, CA
AG, Sacramento, CAEverything you have arranged was fabulous, you have been marvelous and we are all thrilled with our itinerary - you have been exemplary in the work you have done in this planning.
Thank you so very much. Don't change a thing!
Margaret Crotty, New Zealand