Four Corners of the Southwest is On the Road
The places I will be visited were previously inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans
On my road trip to northern New Mexico and southwest Utah, I acknowledge that I will be traveling on the ancient lands of the Ancestral Puebloan people. Their ancestral homelands span across the Four Corners region of the United States. The places they lived and the structures they built are not considered abandoned, and people continue to return to these places today, greeting their relatives who still inhabit this living cultural landscape. I honor all Indigenous caretakers of these lands, the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come. I understand that these areas are sacred to many and pledge to visit with respect.
You may have attended an event recently where someone spoke and acknowledged the original Indigenous People who lived (and may continue to live) on the land in which the event was taking place. My daughter’s graduation where she received her master’s degree from Arizona State University had one at the beginning of the ceremony.
Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgment is a written statement that acknowledges the indigenous peoples on whose land you live. Historically, they have been written in countries including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It provides an opportunity for people of any ancestry to gather and recognize the rich history and culture of the land’s indigenous nations and cultures.
How Can You Find Out Who Lived Where You Live Now?
I live in Tucson, Arizona and my house is located on Tohono O’odham, Sobaipuri, and Hohokam Lands. I’m thankful for the opportunity to live on their traditional homeland. Do you know indigenous lands you live on? Native-Land.ca was launched in 2015 and is a tool to helped people discover the history of the land they inhabit. Input your address and see.
Some National Park Service Units Have Written Land Acknowledgments
I searched some of the National Park Unit websites of places I plan on visiting to see if a statement had been written. Here’s one I found:
Bandelier National Monument is the traditional land of many tribal nations, whose cultures, lifestyles, religious beliefs, and traditions have shaped this land and continue to be shaped by their ties to this place.
In addition, the NPS site listed 23 tribes and pueblos that have connections to the land.
Where I Visited Today
Today my travel buddy and I left Tucson, Arizona, drove through the Salt River Valley and visited El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico. We had cold weather and some snow flurries, but we got out and saw what we wanted to.
El Malpais means “the badlands” in Spanish and mainly refers to the rugged, vast lava flows. It’s not a frequently visited park and I think it’s a hidden gem.
The lands of El Malpais have been a part of Acoma, Laguna, Zuni and Ramah Navajo cultures for millennia. Their traditional uses of the land - gathering herbs and medicines, paying respect and renewing ties continue today.
Next Time
I’ve turned 62 years old and can now purchase a national park pass that will be good for the rest of my life! I’ll purchase it on my current Four Corners road trip. There are other passes available such as a pass for families of fourth grade children to get “Every Kid Outdoors”. There are many NPS units that have free admission. I’ve compiled a list of these sites for the Four Corner state and will include that in next weeks post.
The pass is very useful! To think it was only about ten dollars when my wife and I got ours! Malpais is magical as is Bandeiier. Wonderful country.
This was so interesting, Jan! Thanks for the Native-Land.ca link. I looked up Austin TX and found such interesting information. And hooray about the National Parks Pass! We're going to take advantage of it, too! What a deal. 😊