Native American river guides sought

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Native American students looking for a summer job that has everything to do with adventure and nothing to do with flipping burgers have an opportunity to become a certified river guide and land a job with a local river outfitter.

The Ecological Monitoring & Assessment Program and NAU Outdoors at Northern Arizona University will offer a 10-day Native American River Guide and Cultural Interpretation Training Program on the San Juan River in Utah in May. Scholarships are available.

The program is designed to introduce Native Americans to the basics of guiding multi-day river trips and to provide them with the skills needed to share their cultural heritage and natural history with others.

The waters of the San Juan River offer an ideal environment for river guide training and the numerous cultural sites provide a platform for education, interpretation, and understanding.

The NAU program targets Native Americans age 17 and older, and is intended to instill in them a respect and appreciation for their surroundings. Participants are encouraged to develop teamwork and leadership skills and become environmental and cultural stewards.

The 10-day course will provide an introduction to river guiding, trip planning, cooking, rigging, and river safety, and will emphasize the importance of interpretation of the local human and natural history in enhancing the experience and knowledge of passengers and fellow guides.

Classroom time offers an opportunity to speak with Native American elders and address concerns about cultural issues. Participants also will be given a field trip to local warehouses where they will be exposed to a variety of commercial outfitters and working environments.

During the seven-day river segment, instructors will provide ways to introduce native foods into trip meals. A Hopi ethno-botanist will talk with students about native plants, and interpretation of the archaeology, geology, biology, and natural history will be integrated in teachings throughout the trip.

The program promotes environmental stewardship through "Leave No Trace" training and certification. At the end of the seven-day river trip, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion and representatives from local river outfitters will expose them to future career opportunities.

The river guide training program is designed to provide a foundation for Native Americans interested in natural resource careers and offer opportunities to become involved in the river industry. The program also encourages participants to continue their training and pursue future employment with river companies, non-profit organizations, and management agencies throughout the Southwest.

For more information: http://home.nau.edu/outdoors.asp or contact Matt Erlandson with NAU Outdoors at Matthew.Erlandson@nau.edu.