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In July, during our Ebert family vacation to California, we took a side trip to the new American Girl store in L.A. I had already committed myself to using the American Girl historical eras as themes for some of our outings in Utah. So, while at the AG store, I bought several non-fiction historical books to supplement these adventures. I selected books that would correspond well with our existing plans in Utah. One of the obvious choices was the Kaya series. Kaya is an American Indian character who lived during the middle of the 18th century in the Western United States. How perfect! We had a week planned to spend in Southern Utah, authentic Native American country and I could naturally weave the Indian theme throughout our excursion. In Southern Utah, we could have enjoyed American Indian culture just by stopping in a gift shop or even sitting in my parents' St. George house, to some extent. However, I decided, since we are now New Englanders, we would embrace our opportunity of being in the rugged West and dive deep into the Western American Indian culture.  

And what better way to do this, than to take the kids to the Grand Canyon?

I woke up early one morning, set the navigation system and loaded the kids in the car.  With books, a few snacks and pillows to nap with, away we went.

Stop #1: Pipe Springs National Monument

I saw a historical marker sign on the highway and was suddenly curious. We pulled over at Pipe Springs and found ourselves almost two hundred years back in time. Pipe Springs is a natural spring that served as a watering hole to desert inhabitants for hundreds of years. First the Indians camped at the spot and then the pioneers used it as a fort.  A Navajo Indian woman greeted us and spent part of the morning showing us Indian games, cooking, and herbal medicines. She shared her customs, both ancient and modern. We then toured the fort, which still has one of the first telegraph wires intact as well as a restored bishop's storehouse, which was used to hold the food for the pioneers building the St. George Temple. The kids fed Texas Longhorns and wandered around the garden, which was full of melons soaking in the dry desert rays and huge sun flowers that dwarfed us. We couldn't have been more excited about our spontaneous side trip!

Stop #2: Jacob's Lake

Over hamburgers and shakes, I took advantage of the Native American art surrounding us. We talked about the weaving, beading, sand pictures and silver and turquoise jewelry that adorned the walls.

Stop #3: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon

As soon as we had one glimpse of the stunning views of the North Rim, I immediately knew that our adventure was well worth the drive! I hung Ezra on my back in his Kelty pack, clutched Sophia's hand and threatened Emilie, Jonathan, and Annelise with their lives if they ran, hopped skipped or jumped along the trail, or worse, off the trail. We started our journey along the rim. Gingerly, we made our way out to a ledge. (Which, for the sake of the grandparents' trust and consolation, was fenced in every direction!) It was a clear day and we could see the jagged canyon expand for miles and jut deep into the earth's crust. What a tale we would have to tell of our days in the Wild West! One bonus for me was enjoying the rustic ambiance of the North Rim Lodge. Huge log rafters supported towering windows looking over the canyon. Worn hikers lounged in wooden rocking chairs on the stone porches, sipping cold drinks, with their packs teetering against their dusty legs.  Somewhere along the way I have fallen in love with old hotels. I would add this grand lodge to my list of favorites. 

Stop #4: Indian Jewelery

No Native American experience is complete without a nice piece of Indian jewelery. And from my girls' perspective, purchasing it at a roadside stand added to the fun!

Although we dedicated this day to our "Kaya experience", there were several "extra-curricular" activities throughout the summer which enhanced our "study" of the Native American culture. 

Eating Navajo Tacos with friends in our Millcreek Neighborhood was a favorite! 

Learning about Petroglyphs in Capitol Reef National Park was impromptu but certainly fit nicely into our theme. (Proud to say, my New England children schooled the rest of the group on identifying these ancient images. How did they know what the scorpion, ladder and rain images looked ike?) 

Spotting Cliff Dwellings in Escalate took us back in time. 

In Utah, at almost every turn, one can be immersed in American Indian culture. I remember almost yesterday, as it seems, taking the kids to Mesa Verde, enrolling them in a Native American camp at the Museum of Natural History and going with them to a pow wow at the Festival of the American West in Logan. I am often reminded that their memory fades over time and now their local history includes Pilgrims, Revolutionaries and the American Literary Movement with authors like Thoreau, Hawthorne, Emerson and Alcott. I look back on our summer in Utah as not only precious friend and family time, but also a great opportunity to contrast our new life in the East with our rediscovery of the West.