Grand Canyon Speaks

We hope you appreciated the stories shared throughout Season 3! To wrap up this season, Meranden and Lakin were interviewed about their experiences while working at Grand Canyon National Park as interns with Arizona Conservation Corps and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps. They expressed the importance of highlighting Indigenous voices through Grand Canyon Speaks, event planning, and programming...

Another bonus episode! This one features Kelli Jones, a Diné park ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. Her work consists of working with and inviting tribal members for programs, performances, and more to educate visitors and elevate the voices of those who call the Grand Canyon home. As this interview was conducted in March, which is Women’s History Month, she shares some heartfelt stories about...

We’re excited to highlighted Kelkiyana Yazzie (Diné) who works at Grand Canyon National Park under the Tribal Affairs program. She started her career as an interpretive ranger at Navajo National Monument and now continues her efforts to provide Indigenous communities with resources through the National Park Service. Kelki also emphasizes the role that women fulfil in her culture and mentions sever...

Sierra Klemme grew up in Page, AZ and took her soccer endeavors to the University of Colorado which led her to working as an intern at Grand Canyon National Park. Outside of her internship, Sierra has been carving out her career as a river guide. Take a listen as she shares her journey from soccer athlete to river guide and we hope you enjoy!

This episode features Lynette Lewis, a Diné woman who explains her involvement with NABI, the Native American Basketball Invitational. As a businesswoman of LRLewis LLC, she talks about how she is able to provide services to native athletes such as basketball tournaments and skills training. Rez ball is a huge component to her native community and she talks about the efforts she is doing to provid...

Hunting wildlife has been practiced by Indigenous tribes for hundreds of years in this region and many of those traditions are still practiced today. Although many may see hunting as a sport, it is also regarded as spiritually and culturally significant for tribes and pueblos such as Zuni. In this episode, Lakin Epaloose discusses his hunting experience throughout the years and the traditional-eco...

A small number of our Indigenous athletes are fortunate enough to showcase their talents at a collegiate level, and Malia Ukestine is one of those athletes! After overcoming an ACL injury in high school, she received a scholarship to play at Scottsdale Community College and shares this experience in this Speaks episode. Malia also describes details regarding traditional Zuni connections to Grand C...

Nahongvita! Askwali! Kwa’kwa! Just some of the words you may hear if you ever run a race at one of the Hopi villages. Wendi Lewis describes her running journey which ultimately influenced her to become a cross country and track coach. Now a head coach at Tuba City High School, she incorporates the cultural aspects of running for her team. She also tells us about her apparel business and how she us...

In this episode, Ranger Grace interviewed Kyle Awelagte to discuss his cross country and track experience as a collegiate athlete. As Kyle is from the Zuni Pueblo, he describes the cultural significance of running and shares that his family has a multi-generational history of running in Zuni. Not only is he an athlete, but he is an artist: Kyle shares his work as a fetish carver and the spiritual...

This episode features Jason Amador, a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. ALCC Intern, Meranden, interviews Jason about his basketball career filled with highs and lows. Making his first appearance at March Madness was only one of the many accomplishments of his journey. With these experiences, he explains how he shares his story with native youth to provide them with motivation to go afte...

In this episode, Ranger Eliana speaks with collegiate runner, Ali Upshaw, who is Diné from Fort Defiance on the Navajo reservation. She talks about how she started her athletic career with family who are also runners and made it to her dream college team through some intense training along the way. Through the hard work of it all, she describes how running keeps her grounded, accomplish big goals,...

Welcome to the first episode of Season 3! This episode is about Kyle Sumatzkuku, a Hopi runner from Mishongnovi. ALCC intern, Meranden, talks with Kyle about his running journey and what it was like to qualify and run in the Boston Marathon. He also talks about his experiences becoming a cross-country coach and mentoring youth through Wings of America.

We’re back! Welcome to Grand Canyon Speaks with Season 3, a season dedicated to indigenous athletes of the 11 associated tribes of Grand Canyon National Park. This series dives into their athletic journeys and how much of an impact sports have on their tribal communities.

In this episode, Ranger Annie sat down with Zuni jeweler, April Unkestine. Her work has been made popular by collectors and celebrities such as Brian May. Like many Zuni jewelers, April incorporates the Zuni sun face design into her channel inlay work but with her own twist. She also shares the cultural significance of the Grand Canyon in relation to Zuni and its history. Take a listen to this epi...

In this episode, listen to Rosabelle Shepherd speak with Ranger Dan about her experience as a Diné silversmith. She shares stories from her childhood, the inspiration for her work, and how she hopes the younger members of her family will give silversmithing a try.

In this episode, Ranger Dan spoke with GCC employee Caroline Wilson about her experiences growing up at Grand Canyon with her grandparents. She shares how her Diné culture has played an important role throughout her life and even mentioned some tasty snacks you can find around the Navajo reservation.

In this episode, Ranger Dawn sat down with Darance “Makwesa” Chimerica about being a kachina doll carver for over 26 years. He provides some insight into how it’s been a journey of challenges but also many accomplishments. He also speaks on his involvement with the Hopitutskwa Permaculture as a board member.

On a rainy day, Ranger Kelli got to speak with Chris Lewis about his work as a fiber/textile artist and how he’s incorporated his studies of earlier basketry over the years. He was also able to talk about his position on the board of directors for the Bears Ears Partnership and be one of the voices for Pueblo of Zuni.

In this episode, ranger Kelli talks with Ed Kabotie who is a Hopi and Tewa musician, painter and advocate for his Indigenous communities. Not only does Ed address many issues that our Indigenous people face today, but he also performs a couple of his songs that carry the theme of empowerment.

In this episode, Davis Coonsis spoke about the different artforms he works on from silversmithing to carving to carpentry! As he displayed some of his artwork, he was able to explain what each piece meant to himself in his Zuni culture.

In this episode, Ranger Dawn spoke with Brooke Damon, who was an intern with the Institute for Tribal Enviromental Professionals. She shares what it was like working with Grand Canyon and emphasizing the importance of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and first voices through her work in environmental science.

In this episode, Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps interns Lakin and Meranden sat down with Dan Pawlak, a ranger at Grand Canyon National Park and coordinator of the Cultural Demonstration program at the canyon. Dan shares his experience in this role and how he has created bonds and connections with demonstrators from the 11 tribes of the Grand Canyon. He also talks about his journey within the N...

Leona Begishie tells about her impactful experiences working at the Grand Canyon School as the Native American Aide, her relationship with her Diné culture, and how the Grand Canyon means “family” to her. Leona supported the Native American students by bringing cultural awareness to the teachers and staff.

In this episode, Ranger Lizzy sat down with Art Batala who is a Hopi jeweler with over 50 years of experience. Art describes his journey which started as an apprentice, learning under the guidance of World War II Veterans. He also speaks about his relationship with his father and how that influenced his upbringing and role as a leader in his community.

In this episode, Don Decker, an elder of the Yavapai-Apache Nation. shares stories about his Apache culture, and the Indigenous names of different landmarks in the region, and how his tribe is working to keep their language alive.