HOW HUALAPAI INDIGENOUS PEOPLE SURVIVED AND THRIVE AT GRAND CANYON WEST
Much like the National Park on the South rim, Grand Canyon West is recognized as Federal Land Status. Unlike the National Park, it is situated upon the 哈拉派印第安保留地. While the views are breathtaking, it’s the history of its people, their courage, and resilience that truly ignite the spirit. Before you step on the reservation, consider the past that brought these proud People of the Tall Pines to offer their culture to you as a way to connect and understand America’s Indigenous people.
天际线到空中漫步
Many generations ago, the Hualapai’s ancestral homelands consisted of over 7 million acres of land — ancestral homelands the tribe has sought to maintain and protect since time immemorial. The traditional lands begin at the Little Colorado River, continuing downstream through the entire Grand Canyon, with the lower 108 miles of the Grand Canyon the Hualapai Reservation.
他们在这片土地上狩猎、交易和生活，养活了由四个部落组成的华拉派部落（pai 意为人民）：华拉派是高大松树的子民；亚瓦派是太阳的子民；哈瓦苏派是蓝绿色水的子民；派派是华拉派的子民，他们在 19 世纪 70 年代躲避卡尔瓦里人进入墨西哥。多年来，这些部落面临着许多敌人：西班牙人夺走了他们的黄金，卡尔瓦里人想要所有的土地进行扩张，定居者、牧场主和传教士侵占了华拉派人的家园。当铜、金和铀等自然资源被发现，以及大型蒸汽机的运行需要越来越多的水时，政府剥夺了部落的土地权和用水权，并强迫他们进入保留地。.
THE HUALAPAI RESERVATION
与纳瓦霍人、普韦布洛人或霍皮人不同的是，瓦拉派人和哈瓦苏派人仍然在峡谷中拥有一块自己的原始领地。华拉派人为此要感谢他们的领袖，包括华拉派大酋长查利（Charley）、和平酋长勒夫-勒夫（Leve Leve）和战争酋长施鲁姆（Schrum）。这些人竭尽全力保护自己的妇女和儿童，与接管他们土地的行为作斗争。最终，为了确保族人的未来，他们被迫投降。1883 年，华拉派人被重新安置在华拉派祖先的 100 万英亩土地上，其北部边界沿大峡谷和科罗拉多河中游长 108 英里，位于华拉派印第安人保留地。.
Fun Fact: Schrum’s Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Ahmad, is a Grand Canyon West Ambassador.
Despite attempts of assimilation and dislocation, the Huapalai consisting of 14 bands remain, with cultural practices carried through generations to support their cultural identity and their spiritual connection to their lands. Through trials and tribulations, the Hualapai people pulled themselves out of poverty and are now thriving today through tourism offered at 西部大峡谷.
TOURISM AND THE TRIBE
Contrary to some common misperceptions, the Hualapai are not in any way subsidized by the United States Government. Out of 23 Arizona tribes, this sovereign nation is the only one to enter the tourism industry approximately 33 years ago with a small casino. With its close proximity to Las Vegas, the Hualapai soon realized tourists didn’t want to come there to gamble — they wanted to go to experience their lands.
The Hualapai Reservation has the only road in and out of the west rim of the Grand Canyon. This route is used to not only bring visitors to 空中漫步, 鹰点, 鸟粪点, and the Colorado River, it’s how they haul water from 200 miles away for use on the property. The wells here were exhausted many years ago. Not to mention, electricity is produced from generators since there are no main power lines out to, or on, Grand Canyon West.
GRAND CANYON WEST
The tribe continues to welcome travelers to the West Rim to see the sacred eagle in the rocks at Eagle Point, and the historic structures of the bat guano mining equipment at Guano Point, and marvel at the incredible views. Over the years, they’ve added more and more attractions for visitors to explore, including Helicopter tours and Rafting trips.
Fun Fact: You can stay overnight at the Cabins at Grand Canyon West in rustic cabins that can accommodate up to six guests.
In 2007, a 10-foot wide, horseshoe-shaped glass bridge extending 70 feet out over the rim of the Grand Canyon was erected at Eagle Point. This engineering marvel gives a clear view 4,000 feet to the floor of the Grand Canyon below. In 2018, The 滑索 at Grand Canyon West opened with two quad zip lines running side-by-side to allow groups to soar together nearly 1,000 feet above the canyon floor at speeds approaching 50 miles per hour.
TRADITIONS ON DISPLAY
When you visit Grand Canyon West, the tribe’s culture and traditions are also on display. The self-guided tour through Eagle Point’s authentic Native American Village shows you how Indigenous peoples actually lived with traditionally built housing (they didn’t all live in teepees), earthen ovens, and sweat lodges. The outdoor amphitheater offers a shady spot to enjoy the musical sounds and magical dances of the Bird Singers of the Hualapai Tribe, as well as other tribes (dates and times to be determined). And, before or after a walk on the sky at Skywalk, explore the Hualapai Tribe and the reservation exhibits found on the first floor of the building, including a photograph of Hualapai Charley, Leve Leve, and Schrum, and a large display of all of the “Pai” affiliated ancestral clan/band territorial homelands.
