The landscapes are the most iconic of the United States of America, from the red desert ofArizona to the great prairies of Montana and of South Dakota. And the stories are no different: they talk about American Indians, ancient traditions and a spirituality as distant from us as it is intimately close in its ancestral being.
The journey into the reserves of the Native Americans it begins like this, from the fascination for an extraordinary nature and the attraction for the cultures of the peoples who inhabit it. The United States matters 574 tribes and federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native villages, i.e., those tribal entities that have relationships with the U.S. government. To these must be added over sixty tribes recognized at the state, but not federal, level. However, there is an Indian nation, theIndian Countryspread over 326 Indian lands, where over seven million natives live. There are many languages and today some tribes are doing important work to ensure that they are not lost, even though English is now spoken, together with the traditions and cultures of origin.
Journey to the lands of the Native Americans between culture and nature
Visiting Indian reserves is a journey into a contemporary and millenary reality. However, not all of them accept tourists, also burned by disrespectful exotic tours, now avoidable thanks to the work of native guides who accompany visitors with great attention. It is not easy to organize your trip, but the best and safest way is to contact theAmerican Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (nativeamerica.travel). The organization is linked toAmerican Indigenous Tourism Associationthe only national organization for the promotion of tourism in native nations and communities, with which it shares 15 cultural protocols for travelers, a basic code of conduct, to be followed while respecting tribes, sacred areas and ceremonies, avoiding misunderstandings or violations of traditions. They can be found on the site which also offers the necessary information to develop an itinerary.
Below is a proposal for a two-week trip or shorter experiences in individual places. Navajo Nation it is the largest reserve and extends between Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. We are in the Monument Valley And Canyon de Chelly is ready to welcome you to Northeast Arizona. It is one of the oldest inhabited places in North America, where people still live today Diné. Two scenic drives, the South and North Rim Drive, offer breathtaking views of cliffs and ruins, but to access the canyon, on foot, on horseback or by 4×4, you need a licensed Navajo guide.
Welcome to the Navajo Nation and the people of the turquoise waters
The The View Hotel it deserves at least one night: if the building is not beautiful, the rooms guarantee spectacular views of the desert rock towers and the restaurant offers typical Navajo dishes, such as Fry Breada focaccia to accompany vegetables or mutton stew. The Grand Canyon it is the land of the tribe Havasupaibelonging to the «people of the turquoise waters» and settled for about 800 years in Havasu CanyonArizona. In 1882 the US government drastically reduced its territory, only to expand it in 1975, recognizing the tribe’s ancestral rights to inhabit it. The scenery is grand: the waterfalls (Havasu Falls And Mooney Falls) dominate the red colors of the rocks.
The Havasupai culture is connected to nature, with seasonal agricultural practices and ceremonies linked to water and fertility and today the tribe works to preserve the natural wonders of the territory, limiting access. The village Supai it is one of the most isolated, reachable only on foot, on horseback or by helicopter and can only be accessed if you have a permit. By completely changing scenery, you reach the territory of Blackfeet Nationat the gates of Rocky Mountains in northern Montana.
From the Rocky Mountains to the prairies of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe
The reserve area is among the most spectacular in the area, where the large prairies meet the mountains, up to the border with the Glacier National Park. You can sleep in the houses that have taken the place of the traditional teepee tents of Blackfeet Culture Camp or to Glacier Peaks Hotelequipped with all comforts, including the restaurant, where you can taste bison meat, and the casino.
Finally, the South Dakota and its prairies are the land of Rosebud Sioux Tribe in the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Here is the monument to Spotted Tail (Tatanka Najin), an influential leader of the Sicangu Lakotaknown for his diplomatic skill with the US government after the Sioux Wars. The place is important as a testimony to the period of transition from nomadic life to federal reservations and is visited by tribal members, historians and tourists who do not fail to reach also Wolakota Buffalo Rangeone of the largest bison conservation projects in North America. In addition to Rosebud Casino Hotelthere are several lodges and small hotels in the great prairies. For more intimate nights and ancestral dreams.
