"Sacred Tseyi " a Canyon de Chelly National Monument Travel Page by goodfish

Canyon de Chelly has been home to 5 periods of Native American culture for nearly 5000 years - the longest uninterrupted period of occupation anywhere on the Colorado Plateau. First settled by hunter/gatherers (Archaic) from 2500 - 200 BC, it was home to (successively) Basketmaker, Ancestoral Puebloan, Hopi and Dine' (Navajo) communities over the next several millenia with the Dine' people still living there today.

This place is called Tseyi (pronounced "say-yee") by the Navajo and means "In the rock". Several misspellings and misprounciations by, first, Spanish and then American settlers resulted in the name most of us know it by - Canyon de Chelly (da-shay").

Unlike some of the other archeological sites in the southwest, Canyon de Chelly is still very much a living community and to the Dine' and Hopi people, an ancient and holy part of their culture so specific guidelines apply for respectful exploration. It is good to remember that, aside from the fragility of historic ruins, this is a sacred religious site and resting place for both cultures and their ancestors.

It is also the site of several horrific massacres of their people. In 1805, the result of Spanish settlements trespassing onto Navajo land, more than 115 were killed by the Spanish in a cave near the North Rim. In 1864, Colonial Kit Carson's forces killed or captured the Navajo living in the canyon, destroyed their homes, fields and livestock, and forced the survivors to walk 300 miles to Fort Sumner in New Mexico. Many perished during that journey and many more during 4 years of captivity before being allowed to return home. It is difficult to believe that such a beautiful, peaceful place could have witnessed such sadness.

The picture above is of Spider Rock. Navajo legend has it that this is the home of Spider Woman, who first wove the map of the night sky and the Universe and who passed the art of weaving to the people.