Canyon of The Ancients Finale || Chaco Canyon, New Mexico USA
During the night sky in the ancient world a person may see a side of their soul that can only Be revealed in a place like Chaco Canyon, USA.
The Night.
Welcome to the final blog in a series of events that brought me to Chaco Canyon in the summer of 2018. If you have followed my journey to find my Ancestors, then you may be wondering what I found while visiting my last stop in the Canyon of the Ancients. Chaco Canyon is called The Center of the Ancient World, that title alone may bring excitement.
The Day ...
Photos by @eaglespirit
Canyon of The Ancients Finale.
To catch up to this writing, here is a list of my past blogs up to this point:
What’s Wrong With The Term Anasazi, https://steemit.com/history/@eaglespirit/what-s-wrong-with-the-term-anasazi-you-might-ask
Chimney Rock National Monument, https://steemit.com/history/@eaglespirit/chimney-rock-national-monument
Hovenweep Castle, https://steemit.com/geopolis/@eaglespirit/exploring-the-four-corners-hovenweep-castle-canyon-of-the-ancients
Mesa Verde, https://steemit.com/travel/@eaglespirit/mesa-verde
Lowry Pueblo, https://steemit.com/history/@eaglespirit/traveling-to-the-four-corners-usa-lowry-pueblo-canyon-of-the-ancients
Southern Ute Tribal Museum, https://steemit.com/geopolis/@eaglespirit/come-along-with-me-to-the-southern-ute-museum
Sand Canyon Pueblo, https://steemit.com/steemit/@eaglespirit/eaglespirit-1545627705516-eaglespirits-instagram-feed--20181224-060145?sort=trending
Anasazi Heritage Center, https://steemit.com/dtubesnapplus/@eaglespirit/kxpi0b3d?sort=trending
Taos Pueblo, https://steemit.com/travel/@eaglespirit/taos-pueblo
However, the long dusty road while driving into Chaco Canyon was not as exciting. The reality exists that the lands are located on Navajo lands and oil drilling as well as run down homes are scattered throughout the drive into the canyon. It goes without saying that seeing this was a bit disheartening and brought a feeling of lands under the control of others and not those of my people.
I use the term my people loosely, since many tribes have their own identity yet when we are together we recognize that “We are One.” As you may already know I am of the Hopi and Apache tribes.
One can only imagine what this area must have looked like over two thousand years ago. Many of the buildings were estimated to have been built circa 800 A.D. as a central location for ceremony and trading. Much like my blog describing Chimney Rock National Monument located in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the locations were not used for living and instead used for commerce.
The tradition of stopping at Chaco as a sacred migration and a spiritual place to be honor and respected continues to this very day. This spiritually sacred sentiment was the pull that brought me to Chaco during the search of my ancestors.
The ancestral Puebloan population dominated the area for more than four centuries, my ancestral Hopi tribe have been a part of these traditions from that time-period. To this day they come to these lands to participate in ceremony. Ceremony is a gathering of like-minded individuals wherein ancient stories are told, food is shared, songs are sung.
Photos by @eaglespirit
Typically, ceremonial clothing is worn, and gifts are exchanged. Ancient kivas that were laid out thousands of years ago are a reminder that spirituality was and remains a strong force within my culture.
Walking amongst the sandstone and mud filled walls, and hiking/climbing above the complex was simply amazing. According to those that surveyed the area the structures have survived due to ‘high-quality craftsmanship and the dry, remote location.”
Photos by @eaglespirit
To find out some of the negative history was quite disturbing. For instance, the investigation of the Hyde Exploring Expedition sponsored by the New York Museum of Natural History raped the graves, along with Richard Wetherill and family sold off the artifacts to the highest bidder 1.
Wetherill is credited for “discovering” Chaco Canyon and Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde after his ranching family procured the lands during the land takeovers in the USA during the late 1800s2. His family were lucky enough to procure lands and own a ranch in the area, some say they barely made it until he started sharing Native American burial sites and making money from the looting.
When someone takes an honest look at these structures it goes without saying that there was genius behind the building. One has to realize that maybe this was beyond one person showing others a treasure and selling the people out. Maybe this was meant to be, sad if had to happen, yet there is always a lesson to be learnt.
With controversy over the facts, many Anglo-Americans view Wetherill as an upstanding citizen who wanted to protect Native American rights, however, he was shot to death by a Native American man in 1910, for wanting to use Native American lands for his own selfish gain 3.
Interestingly, Wetherill is buried on the lands where 14 Native American royalty were dug up and shipped off to New York City and currently stored at the Smithsonian 4.
Amongst my people there are many stories of grave robbers, stealing of sacred artifacts, and land grabbing.
Many people may say or think, “this was bound to happen with the growth of the human population or such is life;” however, to be on the other side of the argument it literally breaks my heart every time I visit lands that have this energy tied to it.
The land and spirit sometimes cry out for justice, and as I sit atop a cliff I hear the whispers. Sometimes they tell me ask me to give them justice or other times they say, “you are one of us, sister.” If you ask me what that means, I couldn’t explain it in words. Most times it is just an emotion filled with sadness, joy, and rape all at once.
As I reflect on my journey so far, I wonder why I set out on this quest to find a connection to my ancestors and lands, it often leads to days or weeks of deep sadness. There is a moment of exaltation that is quickly followed by the feelings and motives that nearly destroyed my people. Greed, power, lust.
As time passes I find solace in just knowing, things are as they should be. No matter how tough the lesson, it is now my job to share the information I learn with others. The same is true for everyone who reads this, when we take the time to absorb a lesson share that lesson so we do not lose knowledge. Sharing our stories is one of the most precious gifts we can give.
Photos by @eaglespirit
If there is one thing that I find more productive in this world is to try to get past the negativity and move on to forgiveness. Appreciation for what is still standing and what can still be enjoyed. Otherwise what else can we carry on to future generations if it isn’t knowledge and understanding?
Within the still-standing sandstone walls of Chaco architecture there is still the Night Sky Program that offers “clear, dark skies, free from urban light pollution,” 5. Camping is allowed in Chaco Canyon Park amongst the pictographs and petroglyph cliffs, with a permanent observatory.
Ancient Pueblo of the area used these astronomical sites as a center to every day life. Agriculture, ceremony, and survival were dependent on astronomy. If you ever wish to visit a place like Chaco Canyon, try to schedule your visit around an Equinox or Solstice when you can observe how the light streams through the architecture as originally intended. The most amazing in any of the Great Kiva’s is to visit during Winter Solstice, it will knock your socks off.
As my journey to find my ancestors pulls me closer to, there is a feeling close to slowly climbing a roller coaster, I’m almost at the top and ready to make the big drop. Hopefully, I don’t lose my wig in the wind. That’s Eagle Spirit humor right there.
If you have made it this far then I sincerely thank you for sharing this journey with me. As I continue onward, listening to where I need to go I welcome you to come along. You never know where I will be next, only the ancestors know. As they call me to their side, I cannot wait until we greet each other with open arms and cry with joy.
The next part of my journey continues into Arizona, USA .... See you there!
Love,
hold on to your wigs people! eagle spirit, this was a touching recollection of your time and reflections while at chaco canyon. i had the opportunity to visit when i lived in the desert southwest a few years ago and it was one of the most impressive places i'd ever visit. i could feel the spirits moving, surely, and the stamp of time and time worn traditions still alive in the place feels like it's on the wind. though i have nothing to say to reverse the grave robbing or other things, i want to say that i see you and i hear your story and i thank you for sharing it with us. the number of stars at chaco canyon and just being there by the canyon walls, around the absolutely amazing architecture that is laid out perfectly from above in a pattern not made by accident is enough to change lives. the night sky program is surely a blessing. best to you on your journey.
MJ!! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thought. Many blessing to you both and hope the homestead is sparkling !! Miss you and happy we are all coming together again. xoxo
That's a fantastic set of pictures! The stone and mud building techniques are really impressive to see. I'm sure that this area would be well worth visiting if I get the chance to travel to the southwest next winter.
You’d love it amber!!! xo
I am so glad that you are posting these important posts again, sister . being Australian I only know the basics but a story of your people is so similar to the dispossession of the first people here. It really makes me entirely full of a very similar emotion. I have such empathy. Thank you so much for sharing this post and all your lovely photos. Xx
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Thank you sis!! xo
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STOPThese are some fabulous photos @eaglespirit such a beautiful place to visit. 💕
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