Earth Notes: Homolovi Turquoise (KNAU)

On May 11, 2022May 12, 2022 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 …

Continue reading Earth Notes: Homolovi Turquoise (KNAU)

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

On October 31, 2017April 9, 2021 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 …

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

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

On August 3, 2016August 20, 2016 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 …

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

Face-to-Face: 25 Years of NAGPRA

On October 28, 2015July 26, 2022 By Lyle BalenquahIn Cultural Preservation, Hisat'sinom2 Comments

On the approach of the 25th anniversary of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), I wanted to reflect on my personal experiences in dealing with and implementing NAGPRA with the Hopi Tribe. This is not meant to be a technical, legal or political analysis of the Act, there are other resources available …

Continue reading Face-to-Face: 25 Years of NAGPRA