Fight for Canyon de Chelly
Canyon residents push for management takeover

White House Ruins at Canyon de Chelly is a popular tourist attraction. is again a center of controversial – this time over the running of the park. [Independent File Photo]

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

Canyon de Chelly, the traditional refuge of the Navajo, is again a center of controversial – this time over the running of the park. [Courtesy Photo]

WINDOW ROCK — For several years, a concerned group of residents from Canyon de Chelly have been coming to the Resources Committee claiming harassment by the National Park Service and also expressing their dissatisfaction with the way the canyon is being managed.

Last week they were back again, seeking answers and expressing hope that with the Feb. 3 departure of Park Superintendent Scott Travis that the Navajo Nation would get involved in selection of a new superintendent and also pursue a takeover in management of the canyon.

Travis was transferred to Mesa Verde National Park and Assistant Superintendent Elaine Leslie left last year. William Yazzie and Wilson Hunter Jr. have been serving as acting superintendents.

In a special meeting Monday, representatives of the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department gave a status report to Resources and recommended that with the change in management, the Nation should request that a Navajo be selected as park superintendent. The position is being advertised through Feb. 26 and is open to current federal employees.

Parks and Rec said the two most viable options are a joint management agreement or a management contract with the federal agency. A 638 contract is not feasible because the program does not provide services for the primary benefit of Indians.

Also, they said, rescinding the National Monument status is not in the best interest of the Nation because congressional action would be necessary.

Cydny Martin who supervises the National Park Service’s three superintendents that make up the Southern Four Corners Group which includes Canyon de Chelly, Hubbell Trading Post, and Navajo National Monument, said Tuesday that she addressed the same issues about 1 1/2 to two years ago. “It seems like they come around quite often.”

“The National Park Service would be happy to work with the Navajo Nation on a government-to-government basis regarding the Nation taking over the management of Canyon de Chelly. I know the regional director has responded to the Nation before (that) ‘We’d be happy to work with you on this, just let us know.’”

She said the Nation was told that it would require congressional legislation.

“Obviously it’s a fair amount of effort but it’s not insurmountable,” Martin said, adding, “We haven’t heard anything further. It seems like people want to bring up that as a possibility, but then nobody takes the ball and runs with it.”

In discussion last week, Teddy Halwood of Canyon de Chelly/Del Muerto Residents Association, told Resources members that with Travis’s departure, he thought it would be an appropriate time for the Nation to help select the next superintendent.

“We’re praying every day that the Navajo Nation will do something with Canyon de Chelly. We can’t go back into the same thing again. Someone from here, our tribal leaders, need to do something,” he said.

The residents group also wanted to know the status of three resolutions they had submitted previously.

“In 1985 there was a moratorium that was set in place. That was what the park service was using to deny utility services to canyon residents, and also some of the daily activity,” Halwood said. The moratorium limited utility and infrastructure development along the rim of the canyon.

The Navajo Nation never signed off on it and the group wants it rescinded.

“Also, the two Chinle Chapter resolutions that we submitted to the resources committee was to rescind the 1931 resolution that enacted Canyon de Chelly, and to have the tribe take over Canyon de Chelly once the rescinding is done,” he said.

Resources Chairman George Arthur reassured residents that their concerns have not been put aside. “Since the first presentation, we, as a committee, have traveled to D.C., and we have left instructions with the D.C. office to follow up.

“The question I needed to know was whether or not the National Park Service was authorized by Congress to be the management agency,” he said. “We haven’t been given the appropriate response on how the National Park Service was put in place at Canyon de Chelly.”

Arthur said that in his view, “The National Park Service should relinquish their role in the management of Canyon de Chelly.” He believes the Navajo Nation is in a position to manage the park and do it better because of the historical sites.

Calling it “one of the worst managed parks in the nation,” he said, “I think what we need to do from this discussion is to proceed with developing a committee legislation” which could be presented to the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and then congressional delegates.

Martin said that from the regional office perspective, “We don’t have any indication of mismanagement of the park. I think it’s been run quite well. In fact, I think it’s been well-managed and we have a great staff.”

She said Travis was not removed from his position. “He had a great opportunity at Mesa Verde to be chief of resources. He is an excellent archaeologist. To an archaeologist, it’s like the be-all, end-all to get to go and be in charge of all of the research and everything at Mesa Verde. It was entirely his choice.”

Wilson Hunter Jr., a resident of the Canyon, park employee for nearly 30 years and now acting superintendent, said Canyon de Chelly is not a problem park. “It’s a park with a lot of challenges. There are a lot of things that need to be considered and figure out how to best deal with those.

“It’s going to take everybody being on the same page to do it. This is a very important, very valuable place. Everybody needs to have their share in preserving and protecting and building the stewardship.”