Native ways

Explore enduring cultures set amid stunning scenery

Navajo Nation, Monument Valley, Arizona

It is not surprising that “Walk in Beauty” is a cornerstone of Navajo philosophy. Visitors will be mesmerized by the spellbinding landscape that is the sacred homeland of this Native American people. Hike or ride horseback through the sandstone masterpieces that tower above the high-desert floor. Experience this iconic landscape from the Navajo-owned hotel inside Monument Valley. Ask about guided tours. Info: monumentvalleyview.com

Little Big Horn Battlefield, Crow Agency, Montana

This scenic area memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their way of life. Here in 1876, 263 soldiers and attached personnel of the U.S. Army, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer, met death at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Every August, the area becomes the Teepee Capital of the World when

Crow Agency hosts Crow

Fair, a celebration of native culture that includes pow wows, parades, dancing and an All Indian Rodeo. Guided tours, ending at Last Stand Hill, are also offered during the summer.

Info: nps.gov/libi

Ohio State Parks

Ancient Indians began occupying the land that is now the state of Ohio more than 10,000 years ago when the Ice Age was just ending. Evidence of these early residents remains today; more than 10,000 Indian Mounds — used for burials and ceremonies — have been found throughout the state. By the 1700s, an estimated 20,000 Native Americans lived throughout Ohio. Among the tribes represented were the Delaware, Shawnee, Miami, Mingo, Wyandot and Ottawa. State parks offer interpretive or education programs to assist families in learning more about the human history of these areas. Info: xanterra.com; greatohiolodges.com

First Nations, British Columbia

There are many aboriginal cultural experiences to discover in British Columbia. Visit Vancouver, home of the Coast Salish peoples. Then travel north along the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway, skirting the fjordlike shore of Howe Sound. Admire the glaciated peaks of the Coast Mountains. In Whistler, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, showcasing the living cultures of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations through exhibits, art, food, language, interactive activities and engaging performances.

Info: indigenousbc.com

Taos Pueblo, Taos, New Mexico

Continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years, this remarkable community remains a pristine example of Native American culture, tradition and architecture. UNESCO makes note of the Pueblo Indians’ ability to retain meaningful and long-held traditions despite pressure from the outside world. Close to 1,900 Pueblo Indians still live, full or part time within the community, in homes made of adobe bricks, vigas and latillas. Take a walking tour of the area and uncover a rich history, view native arts and crafts and observe a way of life rarely glimpsed in our otherwise high-tech world.

Info: taospueblo.com

Getty Images A Navajo horseman reenacts a scene from the movie “Stagecoach” at John Ford Point in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

More than 1,000 years old, the Taos Pueblo remains a pristine example of Native American architecture.