Category: Indigenous Archaeoloy

Earth Notes: Hopi Trails in the Southwest

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, climate change, Coal, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Youth5 Comments

My final Earth Notes of the year aired recently. Click on the photo below to hear the story. You can also read more about Hopi Trails by continuing below. "Earth Notes" is produced by KNAU and the Sustainable Communities Program of Northern Arizona University. In 2007 I worked with the Village of Sipaulovi (2nd Mesa) …

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Borne Of Water: A Short Film by The Smoking Section & American Rivers

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, climate change, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Youth6 Comments

I was asked to provide some perspectives (and my voice) to this short video featuring some great animations. "Borne of Water illustrates the journey of water, from mountain snow to flowing rivers. Inspired by a historical Hopi event, the film shows how climate change is impacting water and rivers today. Reduced snowpack and shrinking flows …

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Earth Notes: Hopi Yellow-ware (KNAU)

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Coal, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Southwest, Traditional Cultural Places2 Comments

My 3rd Earth Notes story aired recently. Click on the photo below to hear the story. Kwah-kway! Thank You! "Earth Notes" is produced by KNAU and the Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ). The following is an excerpt from a forthcoming chapter I co-wrote with another Hopi Archaeologist, April Sewequaptewa. Portions of …

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Earth Notes: River House Conservation (KNAU)

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places3 Comments

My 2nd "Earth Notes" story aired this week, and focuses on the conservation work that is occurring in the Bears Ears National Monument. You can hear the episode by clicking the image below ⤵️ Click Image to hear story. These short stories are proving to be a fun and challenging way to rework some of …

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Earth Notes: Homolovi Turquoise (KNAU)

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Coal, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Hunting, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Youth7 Comments

The following is a short piece that I wrote for the radio program, "Earth Notes", produced by KNAU and the Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ). Hear the story HERE I wrote this for a couple reasons, one being that I have strong interest in turquoise and jewelry made from/with turquoise. But …

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Beyond Stone & Mortar: Preserving Indigenous Presence within Ancestral Landscapes

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Youth1 Comment

My latest article about the conservation work we completed in the Bears Ears area is now available via the link below. The piece is featured in the Spring/Summer 2022 edition of the Grand Canyon Trust's publication,  "Advocate Magazine". Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, Zuni #642. Photo: Lyle Balenquah Please consider supporting the Grand Canyon Trust in …

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“Full Circle”

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, YouthLeave a comment

A great article, "Full Circle", authored by Karuna Eberl recently appeared that highlights the conservation work we have been doing within Bears Ears National Monument. The article is featured in the Spring 2022 edition of National Parks, the quarterly magazine of the National Parks Conservation Association. You can find the article HERE There is also …

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Lifeways of the Little Colorado River – Grand Canyon Trust

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, River Guiding, San Juan River, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural PlacesLeave a comment

"No matter its color—clear, red, or blue—the Little Colorado River gives life to the lands, communities, and cultures through which it flows." Follow the link below to hear and read various Indigenous perspectives about Paayu, the Little Colorado River, and why it deserves continued protection and preservation as a Cultural Landscape and unique, desert ecosystem. …

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“Speak Softly, Tread Lightly & Show Much Respect….”

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Indigenous Guides, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places5 Comments

I recently had the opportunity to speak with the "Science Moab Podcast" about my views on Indigenous Archaeology as well as on-going conservation work in Southeastern Utah. This interview was included as a part of the Moab Festival of Science. You can hear the interview here-->https://sciencemoab.org/perspectives-from-a-hopi-archaeologist/ The interview was followed by a live-stream Q & …

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Help protect the Little Colorado River Gorge from development!

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Indigenous Archaeoloy1 Comment

Be sure to check out this short, but great video overflight of 3 dam systems that are being proposed to be built within the Little Colorado River Gorge. These dams would significantly impact unique cultural landscapes that are important for several Indigenous tribes, as well as impact critical, natural habitat for the endangered Humpback Chub. …

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The Indigenous Future of Bears Ears

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Indigenous Archaeoloy2 Comments

I am happy to share my latest writing about Bears Ears, Indigenous Archaeology and what we hope to see develop for this culturally important landscape. This piece is featured in the most recent edition of the Grand Canyon Trust's publication, "Advocate Magazine". Please consider joining the Trust as a member and supporting their efforts to …

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Ancestral Hopi Presence in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Indigenous Archaeoloy3 Comments

An earlier version of this writing appeared in Archaeology Southwest Magazine, Volume 33, Nos. 1 & 2. Like many landscapes throughout the American Southwest, Hopi people maintain a cultural connection with the region now designated as part of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). From a Hopi perspective, we believe that it is our ancestors who, …

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Hisat’sinom to Hopi: Establishing Cultural Affiliation in the Bears Ears Landscape

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Uncategorized2 Comments

With the historic visit by Indigenous Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to southeast Utah this week, I think it's worth re-posting a previous blog writing from 4 years ago describing, in part, some of the Hopi questions and answers we find in the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante landscapes. While the increased attention of …

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The Work Continues in Bears Ears

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Ruins Preservation, San Juan River, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural PlacesLeave a comment

Here are a couple of links to recent articles from High Country News and CNN about the current and future work in the Bears Ears issue. With the change in administration and nomination of Representative (NM) Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior, there is renewed hope to reverse the harmful impacts implemented …

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Paa’tuuwa’qatsi: Water is Life

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Coal, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Native Guides, River Guiding, Southwest, springs,, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Uncategorized3 Comments

The turquoise waters of the Little Colorado River just above the Confluence. The Grand Canyon landscape contains some of the Southwests most unique ecosystems of rivers, springs and riparian zones. These areas are home to many plant and animal species, some found nowhere else in the world, or that represent the last viable populations holding …

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Hisat’sinom to Hopi: Establishing Cultural Affiliation in the Bears Ears Landscape

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Colorado River, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hisat'sinom, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Uncategorized6 Comments

With the historic visit by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to southeast Utah this week, I think it's worth re-posting a previous blog writing from 4 years ago describing, in part, some of the Hopi questions and answers we find in the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante landscapes. While the increased attention of the …

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Culture Relative to Homeland

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Native Guides, Ruins Preservation, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural PlacesLeave a comment

An interview from 2014 with Jack Loeffler (Santa Fe, NM) talking about Hopi connections to Landscapes, Culture & Sustainability. Originally appeared in Green Fire Times, 2014 (Santa Fe, NM). JL: How do you perceive culture relative to homeland? LB: Culture relative to homeland is a big idea. Homeland is something that is always in the back of …

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Spirit of Place: Preserving the Cultural Landscape of the Bears Ears

On By Lyle BalenquahIn Archaeology, Bears Ears, Cultural Landscapes, Cultural Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Hopi, Indigenous Archaeoloy, Native Guides, River Guiding, Ruins Preservation, Southwest, Sustainability, Traditional Cultural Places, Uncategorized, Youth1 Comment

1200 A.D. Dawn breaks over a secluded canyon, spreading a sliver of orange light along the rim as a lone canyon wren welcomes the morning, singing another day into existence. As the light increases in intensity, it illuminates a sheer cliff face, revealing layers of geologic time; ancient cross-bedded sand dunes and million-year old ocean …

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