Tribal Relations and Conflicts around the Grand Canyon National Park

Abstract: The Grand Canyon is a culturally important place for eleven tribes in the Southwest. It is described as the place of emergence for the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni. At the same time, the Grand Canyon National Park is a national treasure and world heritage site. With these accolades come many strong feelings about what and what should not happen within the Park’s boundaries. After reviewing some of the history and current socio-economic statuses of the tribes with adjacent property to the National Park, discuss the un-freezing of the Bennett Freeze and the proposed Escalade project at the Confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers. In conflict are the Navajo Nation’s right to develop on their land, the spiritual and cultural values of surround tribes, and the millions of National Park visitors.