Not long ago, a young generation of Southern Paiute felt unwelcome in their traditional Arizona Strip homelands. Thanks to some important youth-education program funding, the welcome mat is out once again. The Bureau of Land Management Take it Outside Initiative and the National Park Service Youth Partnership Program joined forces to work with several Southern Paiute tribal bands. Together they hosted the first annual Yevingkarere Camp in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, which BLM and NPS manage together.

On a beautiful fall weekend, 20 Southern Paiute children, three elders and seven chaperones, and tribal staff, camped under the tall pines in the shadows of Mount Trumbull. Six Southern Paiute bands (Cedar, Indian Peaks, Kaibab, Kanosh, Koosharem and Shivwits), including three tribal chairwomen, participated in the camp. Joined by NPS and BLM staff, the group was well on its way to encourage tribal access and use of traditional homelands.

The three-day, two-night field excursion provided many opportunities for Paiute youth and elders to re-establish their connections to monument resources, including a visit to the Nampaweap petroglyph site. Elders demonstrated the traditional skills of making cradleboards; spilt-twig willow figurines; bows and arrows; and skumpa (rabbit-brush) dolls. They provided instruction on fire-starting techniques, language skills and other cultural practices. Agency and tribal staff discussed current resource-management issues, including wildlife studies, forestry, fire management, and water-quality activities. The direct interaction with tribal elders and agency staff will help develop this next generation of tribal leaders, preparing them for higher education opportunities and potential resource-management careers.

Gloria Bulletts Benson, BLM’s tribal liaison in the Arizona Strip District and camp co-coordinator, was delighted the program received funding. “Many Southern Paiute tribal youth exist with all the modern conveniences and have lost connections to their heritage,” Bulletts said. “This camp takes them back outside and gives a chance to see how life once was for the people of the Arizona Strip. They interact with tribal elders and other children from the various bands.”

While gathering around the campfire on the very first evening, a tribal elder teaching about native culture, language and song was interrupted when a group of coyotes began to howl. Continuing the lesson after they stopped, she proclaimed the animals were responding to again hearing the Paiute language and were welcoming the Paiutes’ return to the mountain.

The final evening campfire provided time for reflection on the weekend experiences.  Comments during the sharing-circle activity made it clear the camp achieved many educational objectives, especially the important exchange of cultural heritage from elders to youth.  Plans are already underway with tribal leaders for conducting next year’s camp. Everyone expects the coyote welcoming committee to be back on the mountain, eagerly greeting the return of the Paiutes.