History & Culture

Purple and blue clouds above sandstone formations at sunset.
Sunset near Doll House

NPS Photo/ Kait Thomas

Deep, Enduring Connections to Land

The NPS acknowledges, with respect, that Native people have been successful stewards of the land within the park since time immemorial. The NPS understands that the park is located within the ancestral and traditional homeland of the:

Hopi Tribe
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians
Navajo Nation
Ohkay Owingeh
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
Pueblo of Acoma
Pueblo of Isleta
Pueblo of Jemez
Pueblo of Laguna
Pueblo of Nambe
Pueblo of Picuris
Pueblo of Pojoaque
Pueblo of San Felipe
Pueblo of San Ildefonso
Pueblo of Sandia
Pueblo of Santa Ana
Pueblo of Santa Clara
Pueblo of Taos
Pueblo of Tesuque
Pueblo of Zia
San Juan Southern Paiute
Santo Domingo Pueblo
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation
Ute Indian Tribe
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
White Mesa Ute
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation

 

People
People have visited what is now Canyonlands National Park for over 10,000 years. Over time, many different groups have moved in and out of the area in concert with the availability of natural resources and the technology for exploiting those resources.

Places
The many groups of people who traveled through the Canyonlands area left evidence of their presence. Many structures and rock markings remain in the park today. Preserve your heritage by not entering archeological sites or touching or marking on rock art panels. Learn more tips on how to be a good visitor at archeological sites.

Stories
The rich and colorful history of Canyonlands is perhaps best told by the individuals who witnessed it. As told by cowboys, scientists, park rangers, and former government officials, these stories paint vivid pictures of canyon country and all the characters that have called it home.

Archives
What is an archive? Find out how to search for information in archives and discover what we have at the Canyonlands National Park Archives.

 

History Articles

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    Tags: history

    Last updated: December 9, 2024

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