#Navajo Area

[thorsenmark]

Shiprock and a Look Across the New Mexico High Desert by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the northwest while taking in views across the northern New Mexico high desert with a distant view to the Shiprock formation. This is at a roadside pullout along Indian Service Rte 13. With this image, I pulled back on the focal length to include more of the surrounding landscape to add to the setting in the image captured.

[fatchance]

The Colorado River at Navajo Bridge.

[rabbitcruiser]

Indigenous Peoples’ Day/National Native American Day

Coming together to honor and learn from the rich heritage and wisdom of those who've lived on American soil for generations.

Appreciating and paying respect to the unique heritage and culture of those whose origins are native to the Americas, Indigenous Peoples’ Day offers the opportunity to honor, learn, celebrate and raise awareness.

History of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Honoring Native American people throughout the United States, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first officially celebrated in the US in 2021, when US President Joe Biden became the first president to formally recognize the day. However, the idea for the day goes back much further.

In 1977, the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland sponsored the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. Part of the purpose was to begin celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, particularly with the idea of replacing the adoration and glorification of Christopher Columbus with recognition and acknowledgement of the native peoples of the land.

Columbus Day, which is an American holiday, falls on the second Monday of October in the United States, has been less revered in recent years. This is likely due to the fact that the indigenous peoples of the time had their lands and lives taken away from them by the settlers from Europe, and the American people are becoming more aware of the way history has been written only from the perspective of the white person.

In exchange for Columbus Day, many people in the United States have begun the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day instead. Coinciding with the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus on American soil, a celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was organized on October 12, 1992 in Berkeley, California. Many other cities and towns have accepted and implemented something similar in their communities, including places such as Los Angeles, California and Washington, DC.

At least twelve of the United States do not celebrate Columbus Day, and the state of South Dakota celebrates Native American Day instead. Tribal governments in Oklahoma have also made declarations regarding the celebration of Native American Day.

How to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day

A wide spectrum of ways for Americans to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day can be discovered and created. Consider implementing some of these ideas in honor of the day, or come up with some of your own clever ideas:

Attend an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Event

Those who have a family history as a Native American or other indigenous people should certainly take this time to celebrate their heritage! And those who don’t can definitely take the opportunity to support and enjoy learning more.

For people who live in certain places where the populations of indigenous peoples groups are strong, like Arizona, California, Oklahoma, South Dakota and many other states, it is likely that some exciting events, educational programs and celebrations will be on the calendar! Join in on a parade, learn a native craft, or listen to a lecture on history.

Even better, brush up on current events of the indigenous peoples in the local area to see what ways it is possible to learn more about their plight, make a donation or even act as an advocate to raise awareness in the community.

Re-Learn United States History

With the recognition that history over the first 200 years of the United States was written from the perspective of the white person, perhaps National Indigenous Peoples’ Day would be a time, especially for white Americans, to consider a different perspective. Get beyond what was taught in school and get educated on how the story actually happened before the territory of what is now the United States was settled.

Read some books, watch some documentaries and do some research on websites to find out more. Consider some of these books for getting more educated:

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Book Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

The People: A History of Native America by R. David Edmunds

A True History of the United States: Indigenous Genocide, Radicalized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism by Daniel Sjursen

Support an Indigenous People Artist or Community

Often revered for their creativity and attention to detail, many indigenous people tribes produce artwork and handicrafts that are valuable and beautiful. Consider making a trip to a place that supports the arts of native peoples and make a purchase of pottery, blankets, jewelry, painting or some other amazing piece of art to add to your collection.

Visit an Indigenous Peoples’ Museum

Take the hands-on approach to learning more about the people who first inhabited the Americas by visiting a museum or exhibit dedicated to their culture and people. Try out one of these or visit one more local to the area:

Museum of Indigenous People (formerly the Smoki Museum). Located in Prescott, Arizona, this museum works to instill understanding and respect for the people of indigenous cultures, particularly those in the southwestern parts of the United States. The museum holds events, offers membership and even hosts a consignment market.

National Museum of the American Indian. This Smithsonian museum boasts two locations, one in the Washington DC mall and one in New York City. They offer access to various collections and exhibits as well as educational programs, online resources, and presentations with the intent to pay respect and honor to the native and indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Heard Museum. Situated in a vitally important place for Native Americans, this Phoenix, Arizona location focuses on the tribes and people of the Southwest. Exhibitions include handicrafts such as weaving and textiles as well as jewelry, clothing and more. Ages range from prehistoric to contemporary and everything in between. The Heard Museum is also the place where the World Hoop Dance Championship takes place each year!

The Eiteljorg Museum. Located in the center of Indianapolis, Indiana, this museum showcases paintings, sculptures, weaving, pottery, artifacts and even evidence of storytelling. With festivals, educational programs, events and even an annual Indian market, this museum is a fun one to visit and learn.

Source

[exmojoe]

Gotta dress sluttier so I can piss off god, who will then — hopefully — make it rain in a failed attempt to get me to cover up

[mabelsguidetolife]

there isn’t even only one alamo in texas, like, for some reason they thought it would be good to build a full-scale replica where i live and it’s so lame

[reserwrekt]

Literally my life experience as a minority in every school I've been to... I've seen and been through too much lol

[northameicanblog]

Bisti Badlands, New Mexico, United States: The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is a 45,000-acre wilderness area located in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Established in 1984, the Wilderness is a desolate area of steeply eroded badlands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, except three parcels of private Navajo land within its boundaries. Wikipedia

[musicandlaughs-blog]

Hiking Southern Utah: Yellow Knolls Trail

Hiking Southern Utah: Yellow Knolls Trail

Hiking Southern Utah: Yellow Knolls Trail Written by Ashley Gilreath Trail name: Yellow Knolls Trail Distance: 4 miles round-trip Elevation Change: 537 ft. Directions: From Interstate 15 Exit 8, turn west on St. George Boulevard. Turn at the first right on 1000 East. Turn right onto Red Hills Parkway. Turn left on Cottonwood Springs Road. It’s about a 6.5 mile drive from where you turn off Red…

[seafoamaphrodite]

a beginner’s guide to…

✨ altars ✨

here are some materials you can use for an altar, whether it is for your spellwork, a deity, or any other use! altars should reflect your personality, and be a space where you feel happy and safe :D

none of these materials are required, and everything is completely customizable to your beliefs! (just practice respect and safety obviously)

🕯️ basics 🕯️

an altar cloth is a piece of fabric that covers your altar. this could be a bandana, a small blanket, or even a piece of paper!

a glass plate is a mundane but VERY versatile altar piece. it can work as an offering dish, a tray to collect wax drippings, or just a little trinket holder

candles are an easy addition to any altar. you can use any type of candle, but my favorites are taper and prayer candles. scented candles are completely fine to use as well! choose candles based on color and scent

natural materials like crystals, flowers, plants, animal bones (responsibly sourced), etc. are an incredible addition to any altar! if you have a deity altar, learn about their associations and use this to guide your choice

paper and pen/pencil will be your best friend if you write petitions, draw sigils, etc. keep them near your altar for convenience

🌱 cleansing 🌱

many people believe an area should be “cleansed” before it is used as an altar or sacred space

methods of cleansing include incense, water cleansing, sage smudging, and more

incense cleansing is often done by wafting an incense stick or cone through a space and visualizing the smoke clearing out negative energy

sandalwood, lavender, and rosemary are common incense choices for cleansing

water cleansing is something i do a lot, it can be done by sprinkling water in an area or even washing/pouring water. regular tap water is perfectly fine, but you can also incorporate moon water, sun water, rainwater, etc.

smudging with sage involves burning a bundle of sage and, similar to incense cleansing, wafting the smoke through the area. sage smudging is traditional to indigenous tribes like the Lakota and Navajo. as a result, sage smudging (especially the use of white sage) is often considered cultural appropriation when done by non-indigenous people. i am not indigenous nor do i use sage, so i am not incredibly well versed on the subject but i thought i should include it. always do research and practice respect and sensitivity 💌

🌙 takeaways 🌙

finally, your altar is YOUR space. you can include or exclude anything you want; your space doesn’t need to be “aesthetic” or make sense to others

my first altar was a cardboard box with one candle and a handful of crystals. it wasn’t expensive or fancy, but it got me into my practice

through the years, my altar has grown and changed as i have

if you want to make an altar, start with what you have! you would be surprised how powerful your resources are 🩷

[reasonsforhope]

"In drought-stricken areas, communities facing water shortages, or even in residential and commercial buildings eager to improve their environmental footprints, atmospheric water generators represent a new frontier in water production.

While it might sound like a tidbit from a science fiction movie, even the driest places on earth have moisture in the air that can be extracted and used for everyday necessities like plumbing and drinking. 

Unlike traditional dehumidifiers, which also pull moisture from the air, AWGs utilize filtration and sterilization technology to make water safe to drink. 

And while there are plenty of AWG companies out there — and the science itself isn’t novel — AWGs are becoming more efficient, affordable, and revolutionary in combating water scarcity in a myriad of communities.

Aquaria Technologies, a San Francisco-based AWG startup, was founded in 2022 to help provide affordable and clean drinking water in areas most affected by climate change. 

Using heat exchange and condensation, Aquaria’s generators draw air into their systems, cool that air below its dew point, and as it condenses, capture that water and filter it for consumption. 

As the cycle continues, the generator’s refrigerant vaporizes and goes through a process that cools it back into a liquid, meaning the heat transfer cycle repeats continuously in an energy-efficient and self-sustaining system.

“I’m sure you’ve had the experience in the summer, you take a glass of a cold drink out of the fridge and then water droplets form on the side of the bottle,” Aquaria’s co-founder and CEO Brian Sheng, said in a podcast episode. “That’s actually condensation.”

Sheng continued: “The question is, how do we create condensation? How do we extract water out of the air in large volume and using little energy? That’s what our technology does. We have created both active and passive cooling methods where we use special materials, and we’ve created heat exchange and recovery systems and airflow design, such that we’re maximizing heat exchange, and then we’re able to extract large volumes of water.”

Aquaria has created a number of generators, but its stand-alone model — the Hydropack X — can replace an entire home’s dependence on municipal water, producing as much as 264 gallons of potable water per day. 

Other models, like the Hydrostation, can provide water for up to 1,500 people at parks, construction sites, or other outdoor public areas. The Hydropixel can make 24 gallons of water per day for a seamless at-home application, requiring a simple outlet for power. 

“Atmospheric water generators present a groundbreaking solution to the global challenge of clean water scarcity, leveraging the humidity present in the air to produce potable water,” the company’s website explains.

“This technology is versatile, functioning efficiently across diverse climates — from arid regions to tropical settings. From rural communities in developing countries to advanced cities facing unexpected droughts, atmospheric water generators have a wide range of applications… transforming lives and providing secure, clean water sources.”

Considering an estimated 2.2 billion people lack access to clean water globally — including in American cities like Flint, Michigan, or Modesto, California — innovative solutions like AWGs are vital to maintaining the basic human right to clean water. 

The World Economic Forum has begun to dip its toes into this technology as well, implementing public and private partnerships to introduce AWG units in Arizona’s Navajo Nation, where the machines produce about 200 gallons of clean water per day.

“When combined with an appropriate level of community engagement and triple-bottom-line business (people, planet, profit),” a blog post for WE Forum said, “this model can be a powerful stopgap solution where few exist today.”

Similarly, according to New Atlas, Aquaria has a partnership with developers to supply its technology to a 1,000-home community in Hawaii later this year, relying entirely on atmospherically generated water.

The company also has a “Frontier Access Program,” which partners with water-related NGOs, community project developers, and sustainable development groups to deploy this technology in areas most in need.

Regardless of their use cases — in homes, in communities facing water shortages, or at aid sites navigating natural disasters — AWGs have a minimal environmental impact. Sourcing water “from thin air,” requires no plastic bottles, no large-scale plants using up loads of energy, and no byproducts that can harm the environment."

-via GoodGoodGood, August 27, 2024

[thorsenmark]

Ford Butte and a Look Across the New Mexico High Desert by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While at a roadside pullout along Indian Service Rte 5 with a view looking to the north-northwest across the northern New Mexico high desert setting. Off in the distance is the volcanic pipe, or diatreme, of Ford Butte. Given the mostly overcast skies that afternoon, I decided to zoom in and focus on the butte itself. I pulled back a little on the focal link to include some of the nearby foreground to add an interest to the image while including some skies to use as a backdrop. The rest was metering to best bring out the colors present on this somewhat overcast day.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

Earlier this year, Arizona lawmakers sued the Biden administration over the newly created Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument — arguing that the establishment of national monuments should be state matters and calling the move a “land grab.” Now, the Hopi, Havasupai, and Navajo Nation, whose ancestral lands overlap with the national monument, have intervened in the case and joined with the federal government to protect the area.

“Even if the Tribal Nations and federal government share similar goals and legal positions in this litigation, the United States cannot adequately represent the Tribal Nations’ sovereign interest,” the tribes’ intervention stated. 

The nearly one-million acre national monument protects areas tribes called home before being forcibly removed by the federal government, as well as places where tribal citizens hunt, pray, and gather foods and medicines. The area is also important for wildlife migration routes and potential burial sites. 

If successful, Arizona’s lawsuit would open Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni to more economic development, and specifically, livestock grazing and uranium mining. Currently, there is only one uranium mine in operation within the boundaries of the national monument. The lawsuit argues that limiting mining of uranium around the Grand Canyon will make the U.S. more dependent on acquiring it from foreign countries for energy purposes.

Arizona’s lawsuit is focused specifically on the Antiquities Act. Passed in 1906 to protect areas of scientific and historical significance, President Biden used the act to create Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni after decades of Indigenous advocacy focused on protecting the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. According to Arizona, the national monument ties up too much land, impacting revenue generation that could affect funding for schools as well as the economies of small towns in the area who have also joined in the suit against the federal government.

[rabbitcruiser]

Clouds (No. 1061)

Glendale, UT (four pics)

Kane County, UT (six pics)

[wild-west-wind]

So, due to Circumstances I am thinking about taking a season up at Mount Rushmore. I am feeling very morally conflicted about this. I was thinking about reading up on the cultural history of the area and mainly focusing programs on the Lakota, but I also feel that I'm too white and I'll end up speaking over them. My mom is Navajo and lives in a reservation, but I never knew her. I feel like I'll just be complicit in their continued oppression. Thoughts?

The Sioux have continued to fight for the land to be returned, but that includes more than that one mountain. I think it's probably more important to hear what Sioux folks have to say. If anyone wants to jump in through replies, reblogs, or asks I'd be interested in hearing!

As a white person, I wouldn't work there, but I think it's more beneficial for you to stay fed, safe, comfortable and alive in an objectionable place than for you to suffer needlessly in a less objectionable one. Ultimately you aren't all that complicit (in my opinion) in 175 years of theft by getting what I presume is a working class job as an indigenous person.

Also does it have to be Mt Rushmore? There are other park service sites nearby, like Jewel Cave 45 minutes away.

[1five1two]

White Pocket, a striking area within the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. The formations are primarily composed of Navajo Sandstone, originating from ancient sand dunes that were petrified over many millennia. Erosion by wind and water has since sculpted these rocks into bizarre and intricate shapes, creating a landscape with swirling patterns and unusual textures. The resulting appearance is reminiscent of an extraterrestrial surface, contributing to White Pocket’s otherworldly and mesmerizing appeal.

[morbidology]

Skinwalker Ranch, a remote property in northeastern Utah, has become one of the most infamous and mysterious sites of alleged paranormal activity in the United States. Spanning approximately 512 acres, the ranch has been the focus of countless stories involving UFO sightings, strange creatures, poltergeist-like phenomena, and unexplained cattle mutilations. For decades, it has attracted the attention of scientists, researchers, and enthusiasts of the unexplained, earning its place as a central figure in the lore of the paranormal.

The ranch's name is derived from the Navajo legend of the skinwalker, a malevolent witch capable of transforming into, possessing, or disguising themselves as an animal. According to Navajo folklore, skinwalkers are dangerous beings that use their shape-shifting abilities to cause harm and spread fear. The Ute tribe, who reside in the region, have long spoken of the land where the ranch is located as being cursed and avoid it whenever possible. The Utes believe that the Navajo sent skinwalkers to curse the Utes after a conflict between the two tribes, and that these entities continue to inhabit the area to this day.

The ranch first gained widespread attention in the 1990s when Terry and Gwen Sherman purchased the property in 1994. The Shermans quickly began experiencing strange and terrifying events. They reported seeing large, wolf-like creatures that were unaffected by bullets, mysterious lights in the sky, and crop circles appearing overnight. Perhaps most disturbingly, they encountered instances of cattle mutilations, with several of their livestock found dead and mutilated in ways that defied explanation—often with precise, surgical cuts and no blood at the scene.

The Shermans also described poltergeist-like activities within their home, such as objects moving on their own, strange voices, and even the sudden appearance of unfamiliar and disorienting odors. Despite their initial skepticism, the sheer volume and intensity of these experiences led the family to believe that something supernatural was at play. After only 18 months, the Shermans sold the ranch.

In 1996, Robert Bigelow, a billionaire businessman with a keen interest in the paranormal, purchased Skinwalker Ranch. Bigelow founded the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS), a research organization dedicated to investigating paranormal phenomena. Bigelow's team of scientists, including physicists, biologists, and other experts, spent years studying the ranch in an attempt to uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences.

Despite employing sophisticated equipment and extensive surveillance, the NIDS team was often frustrated in their efforts to capture definitive evidence. The phenomena were elusive, frequently occurring just out of view or in ways that defied scientific analysis. Nevertheless, the team documented numerous instances of high strangeness, including bizarre animal sightings, unusual electromagnetic readings, and unexplained lights and aerial phenomena. The ranch seemed to be a hotspot for what many called a "paranormal stew," with a wide range of inexplicable events occurring simultaneously.

Over the years, numerous theories have been proposed to explain the mysteries of Skinwalker Ranch. Some suggest that the area is a portal or vortex to another dimension, where entities and phenomena from other realities bleed into our own. Others believe that the ranch may be a site of advanced extraterrestrial activity, with UFOs and alien beings using the area for unknown purposes. There are also those who think that the ranch's strangeness could be the result of secret government experiments or technologies being tested in the remote location.

Skeptics, however, argue that the stories of Skinwalker Ranch are exaggerated or fabricated, fueled by a mix of folklore, psychological phenomena, and the power of suggestion. They point to the lack of concrete evidence and the often anecdotal nature of the reports as reasons to question the legitimacy of the claims.