A plan to keep Canyon de Chelly’s stories in Tséyi’ hands

Robert Bettis
Navajo Times

For generations, families who live in and around Canyon de Chelly have served as caretakers of the land. They know the trails, the stories, and the responsibilities that come with sharing this sacred place. But now, many of those families say their voices are being drowned out by outsiders who profit from the canyon without understanding its history or contributing to its care.

At the center of this growing concern is Leander Staley, a fourth-generation Navajo guide and the operator of Beauty Way Jeep Tours. Staley first brought the issue to light after witnessing increasing numbers of tour operators entering the canyon without any ancestral ties or firsthand knowledge of its cultural significance. He then alerted Erie Tsosie, the president of the Tséyi’ Association, who immediately supported Staley’s call for change.

Staley’s deep connection to the canyon is well documented. As a child, he appeared in the 1983 documentary Seasons of a Navajo, which followed his grandparents as they lived in harmony with the land inside the canyon. The film captured a time when the river still flowed, the farms were vibrant, and sheep herds grazed across open meadows. Today, the landscape has changed. The riverbed has dried, erosion has damaged traditional farmland, and invasive vegetation has spread across what were once thriving gardens.

“This is not just about fairness,” Staley said. “The canyon needs real stewardship, and the only ones doing anything about it are the families who have always lived here.”

Years ago, when a massive rock and landslide blocked access to the canyon, it was Staley who cleared the roads at his own expense. Without the help of chapter or park service assistance, he made the route passable again for residents and tour operators. This kind of action, he says, proves that stewardship is not theoretical – it is lived responsibility.

Recent meetings between the Tséyi’ Association, Chinle Chapter officials, the National Park Service and Navajo Parks and Recreation have brought these concerns to the forefront. Tsosie has been vocal in calling for new guidelines that would ensure only those with deep roots in the canyon are allowed to guide visitors through it.

“For so many years, these institutions are supposed to be there to help us,” Tsosie said. “But many are not from the canyon. None of them really know the actual lineage, the families, they do not know the stories.”

The Tséyi’ Association is now advocating for formal recognition of local guides. They have proposed a certification or memo system that would distinguish approved, canyon-rooted operators from outside businesses. The Chinle Chapter House is considering a resolution in support of the effort, with Arlando Teller assisting in drafting the proposal.

“We are pushing for stewardship,” Tsosie explained. “The tour guides can only do so much. We need the institutions to stand with us.”

Currently, the process for becoming a tour operator on the Navajo Nation falls under the Navajo Nation Tour and Guide Service Act, administered by Navajo Parks and Recreation. The act requires business documentation and insurance but does not mandate proof of residency or lineage in the canyon. Danielle Yazzie of the Navajo Parks and Recreation acknowledged that most guides are local, though the rules do not exclude outsiders.

“It is not a specific requirement,” Yazzie said. “But most of the tour operators here have strong ties to the monument.”

That lack of clarity is what Staley and Tsosie hope to change. They believe guiding in Tséyi’ must be more than a business opportunity. It must reflect the deep family and cultural responsibilities passed down through generations.

“These are not just jobs,” Tsosie said. “This is our history.”

The association envisions a future in which visitors can easily identify which guides have true ties to the canyon and which do not. They want to work with the National Park Service and Navajo Parks and Recreation to implement a certification system that keeps tourism dollars in the community and ensures that the stories shared are authentic and respectful.

“Authentication is not just paperwork,” Tsosie said. “It is about knowing whose hands have cared for this land.”

For now, the community continues to organize. The chapter house resolution may prove to be an important first step, but support from both tribal and federal agencies will be necessary for lasting change.

“We want growth in our community,” Staley said. “But we want it to be ours. This canyon has taken care of us, and we have to take care of it.”

Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.

 

---