• Tagged event, holiday, Native American nations, Native Americans, people, pow wow, powwow

At the first Thanksgiving there were 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans who feasted for three days. Yet when you look at the First Thanksgiving history, art shows mostly pilgrims outfitted in clothing that they probably didn’t wear and a small amount of Native Americans. The depicted scenes irk me as it’s all about the pilgrims and totally skewed — or perhaps screwed which is where the pilgrims would have been without help from Native Americans. The new colonists were suffering illness and malnutrition, and most likely would not have survived had it not been for Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe. Squanto helped forge an alliance between the settlers and the Wampanoag tribe. So this is a bit different for a Thanksgiving post, but hey what can I say other than be thankful and hope you enjoy the very beautifully and brightly-colored pow wows. Happy Thanksgiving! [50 Fantastic Photos]

• Tagged Antelope Canyon, Arizona, Lower Antelope Canyon, Native American nations, Native Americans, nature, Navajo Nation, Navajo Tribal Park, people, photography, photos, pics, places, The Corkscrew, The Crack, travel, Upper Antelope Canyon

The mysterious, magnificent colors of Antelope Canyon make it the most photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest. This masterpiece of color is located near Page, Arizona, and the Lake Powell area. We’ve looked at Canyon de Chelly National Monument and magnificent Monument Valley, but in Navajo Nation tribute part 3, we’re looking at Antelope Canyon. This is actually made up of two slot canyons. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” Lower Antelope Canyon is Hasdeztwazi which in Navajo means “spiral rock arches.” Antelope Canyon was formed mostly by erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flooding and water rushing through the rocks. The risk of flash floods is but one reason Antelope Canyon is not accessible without a guide. Yet people come from all over the world to visit the Navajo Nation and to try out this photographic extravaganza. [30 Photos]

• Tagged Arizona, desert, environment, Monument Valley, National Park, Native American nations, Native Americans, nature, Navajo Nation, Navajo Tribal Park, people, photography, photos, pics

Magnificent Monument Valley is one of the most iconic and enduring landmarks of the American “Wild West.” Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has isolated red mesas, buttes and a sprawling, sandy desert that has been photographed and filmed countless times. Crimson mesas and surreal sandstone towers rise hundreds of feet into the air, some as tall as 1,000 feet. The dramatic natural and rich red hues dominate the entire region that spans the border between Arizona and Utah. Both the beauty and the sheer size of the valley provide majestic scenery that overwhelms the senses as the play of sunlight and shadows holds a person spellbound. Monument Valley is not as much a valley as a wide flat plateau, interrupted by crumbling formations that are the last remnants of the sandstone layers that once covered the entire region. This is part two in an ongoing tribute to the Navajo Nation. (Canyon de Chelly National Monument was part one). We love these pics! [46 Fantastic Photos]

• Tagged Arizona, Canyon de Chelly, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, monuments, National Park, Native American nations, Native Americans, nature, Navajo Nation, people, photos, pics, pictures

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is located on the Navajo Nation and is about 84,000 acres of gorgeous land which has more than 4,000 years of human occupation. That makes this land one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America. Canyon de Chelly has thousands of years of perserved culture like cliff dwelling architecture, artifacts, and rock art. The National Park Service and the Navajo Nation share resources and continue to work in partnership to manage this breathtakingly beautiful national monument. Canyon de Chelly National Monument is part one of Heaven aka the Navajo Nation. [50 Photos]
Magnificent Monument Valley is part two in the tribute to the Navajo Nation. Awe-inspiring Antelope Canyon (30 PICS) Navajo Nation Tribute Part 3