Sixteenth Annual Native American Heritage Days Starts August 13 on North Rim of Grand Canyon

Date: August 5, 2009
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958
Contact: Robin Tellis, 928-638-7739

Grand Canyon, Ariz.– The National Park Service invites the public to the 16th annual Native American Heritage Days on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This event, which celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau, the Arizona Strip and the Grand Canyon, will begin with a morning nature walk on Thursday, August 13, 2009, and will end with a special evening program on Friday, August 14.

Native American Heritage Days began in 1993 as “Paiute Days” and celebrated the Paiute as the last Native American group to occupy the North Rim of what later became Grand Canyon National Park. In 1997, the event was expanded to include all Native American groups with cultural ties to the Grand Canyon. Currently, eleven tribes are known to have ties with the canyon; and this year’s event will focus on the traditions and skills of the Hopi, Paiute and Navajo cultures.

Throughout Native American Heritage Days, special programs will be offered by tribal members and non-tribal members on a variety of subjects, ranging from ethno-botany to Native American flute playing and dance. Programmed activities will take place in various locations throughout the North Rim developed area. Visitors may inquire at the North and South Rim Visitor Centers for a complete list of event activities, as well as their times and locations.

Support for this event is provided through donations received from the Grand Canyon Association, Forever Resorts, Flagstaff Area Parks and Pipe Spring National Monument.

For additional information on Native American Heritage Days, please contact North Rim District Interpretive Ranger, Robin Tellis, at 928-638-7739. For advance overnight lodging reservations on the North Rim, contact Forever Resorts, at their toll free number [phone] or at [phone] or visit their website at www.foreverresorts.com. Advance reservations for the North Rim Campground can be made up to five months in advance on line at www.recreation.gov or by calling [phone]. For additional information on Grand Canyon National Park, visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/grca or call 928-638-7888.

- NPS -