ARIZONA, HOME OF THE NAVAJOS, HOPIS AND APACHES
No state has more of a Native American profile than Arizona, with one-quarter of its land within the boundaries of 22 federally-recognised nations. Among them are the Navajos, whose more than 27,000-square-mile territory extending into New Mexico and Utah is the country's largest and one of its most prosperous tribal territories, obtaining its wealth from gas, oil, coal, casinos and tourism. You can take Navajo-guided jeep and horseback rides through – and overnight in – spectacular, film-set Monument Valley (where the View Hotel's Trading Post sells such outstanding native creations as woven rugs and silver and turquoise jewellery), hike and camp in the Canyon de Chelly, and take stunning photos in vivid Antelope Canyon.
When I visited the Navajo Nation capital, Window Rock, several years ago I chatted with tribal leaders in the octagonal capitol building and briefly met an elderly Code Talker whose Navajo language messages defied Japanese code breakers and thus helped America and the Allies win World War I. Then I headed for the Hopi villages perched high on hilltop mesas in the centre of Navajo lands. There, a local guide explained their religion, including the Katsina spirits which inspire the creation of the highly-collectible wooden Katsina dolls.
I was also taken to a small museum where a bulletin board display included a clipping proclaiming that the Hopis had successfully taken Marvel Comics to court for defaming their religion by depicting the colourful Clown Katsina as a villain. And, as I left the area, I couldn't resist purchasing a T-shirt labelled: “Don’t Worry – Be Hopi!”
Outside Tucson – known for its indigenous-inspired cuisine and arts and crafts stores – is the ancient Tohono O’odham Nation where the desert farmers practice creative water techniques well-suited to our era of global warming and income is derived from the Desert Diamond Casinos.
South of Phoenix, home to the Heard Museum, a treasure house of traditional and contemporary arts and crafts, the Gila River Indian Community is home to both the Akimel O’otham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) people and to the Wildhorse Pass and other resorts that encompass spas, casinos, horseback riding, golf and more. And, on the eastern border with New Mexico, the White Mountain Apache Reservation offers skiing on peaks up to 11,000 feet, superb trout fishing, elk hunting, casinos and more.
TAKE NAVAJO-GUIDED JEEP AND HORSEBACK RIDES THROUGH – AND OVERNIGHT IN – SPECTACULAR, FILM-SET MONUMENT VALLEY, HIKE AND CAMP IN THE CANYON DE CHELLY, AND TAKE STUNNING PHOTOS IN VIVID ANTELOPE CANYON.