'We Are Grand Canyon,' a new film on the 11 culturally associated tribes, premieres

By Gabriel Pietrorazio
Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 - 8:05am
Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2024 - 10:12am

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Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Gabriel Pietrorazio/KJZZ
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park premiered a new film Wednesday that was several years in the making and is focused on this landmark’s tribal communities.

“We Are Grand Canyon” is a collaboration between Grand Canyon Conservancy, the Inter-Tribal Working Group and Grand Canyon National Park. It aims to pay homage to those 11 culturally associated tribes who’ve called this natural wonder home since time immemorial.

This film will welcome park goers to the second-most visited national park in the U.S., with nearly 5 million annual visitors traveling to the Grand Canyon last year.

“The tribal orientation video will be introduced here shortly, starting this summer,” said Jason Coochwytewa, a Hopi, who sits on the nonprofit Grand Canyon Conservancy board of directors. “That is a 30-minute film that talks about the story of the Grand Canyon from the perspective of tribes.”

Screenings are scheduled for Wednesday at the Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center.

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