Canyon Keepers: Canyon de Chelly residents band together to preserve their home, heritage

By Robert Bettis
Navajo Times

CHINLE

Nestled within the sweeping red cliffs of Canyon de Chelly National Monument, a quiet revolution is taking shape.

For generations, the Diné families who call this rugged landscape home have faced mounting challenges, from dwindling water access to encroaching tourism, but now they’re joining forces as the “Canyon Keepers” to reclaim their future. What began as scattered individual efforts has grown into an organized movement determined to protect both the land and their way of life.

Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Navajo Code Talker Thomas H. Begay stands and poses for the camera at the Cove Chapter Veterans Memorial in Cove, Ariz.

The canyon’s approximately 70 resident families live in conditions that stay true to the traditional way of life. Many homes lack running water or reliable electricity, forcing residents to haul water for drinking, farming and livestock. Persistent drought has made traditional farming increasingly difficult, while erosion and invasive plants further degrade the land. Wildlife encounters have become increasingly dangerous, with one family repeatedly battling a bear that destroys their fruit trees.

To read the full article, please see the June 5, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.

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