Canyon de Chelly Guided Canyon Tour - Chinle, Arizona

Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established on April 1, 1931 as a unit of the National Park Service. It is located in northeastern Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. It preserves ruins of the early indigenous tribes that lived in the area, including the Ancient Pueblo Peoples (also called Anasazi) and Navajo. The monument covers 131 square miles and encompasses the floors and rims of the three major canyons: de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument. The canyons were cut by streams with headwaters in the Chuska mountains just to the east of the monument.  There are over 2700 archaeological sites within the many canyons of Canyon de Chelly National Monument. We did not see all of them.

We toured the floor of the canyon with guides that still lived there.  Here is some information on them.

Adam Teller - Story Teller - Antelope House Tours 

Adam lives at Running Antelopehouse ruins, Canyon Del Muerto/Canyon De Chelly. He specializes in Storytelling and teaching the Dineh ways. His Grandparents we're Medicine People, and they have Blessed him with the Sacred Knowledge and Stories of long ago.

Adam Teller talking to some of our tour group

 Here is a link to one of his stories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IfLclhW4Ks

Ben Teller – Adam Teller’s father

Ben Teller was born inside the Canyon De chelly, and grew up inside at Tsegi overlook area  Ben is a teacher and storyteller for the National Park Service and is often requested to guide for his expertise in interpretation of rock art.  He is also an excellent singer and entertainer for the Navajo people.  He has been featured in several newspaper articles like the Arizona Republic and Navajo times.  He is one of the few "year round residents" of Canyon Del Muerto, with his house located at Running Antelope House Ruins site.

Ben Teller talking to his tour group

 The two guides not only toured part of our group but they also met with us the following evening and told stories that was passed down from their grandfathers.

 

Here's some of the many pictures taken while touring the canyon floor.

 

Here we are at the Teller's home.  It was rainy and cold on the 15 mile trip.  While there we had fry bread, coffee and a camp fire to warm us.  The weather cleared on the way back to camp.