Stop 2: Entrance Station

Star trails over Valle Grande

NPS/Kelli Housley

While this tour by design focuses on connections to specific places in Valles Caldera, the Hemish emphasize their ties to the entirety of Valles Caldera. From approximately 1100 C.E. to the 1600s C.E., the Hemish lived and practiced high elevation agriculture in the mountains without the megafires that have dominated the post-2000 landscape. As Hemish historian Joe Sando wrote, “The secret of their existence was simple: They came face to face with nature but did not exploit her. They became a part of the ecological balance instead of abusing and destroying it, accepting the terms of their environment and becoming a part of the land.” Hear Mr. Toya, Mr. Toledo, and Mr. Magdalena talk about the importance of Valles Caldera to the Hemish people.