Native American Journeys - Tours to the Grand Canyon, Hopi, Navajo, and Hualapai Indian Reservations

Brian Benallybrian

Ya'ah'Teeh

Hau, Kimo Sabe! (That's a joke)

My name is Brian Benally (my last name is not Italian). I belong to the Navajo Nation ( Dine') "The People", the Greatest Nation in Human history.
My upbringing was what I call "Rez Style", by this I mean, I grew up in a traditional way with my Grandparents. From them I learned my language and customs of my people. I was taught to be a "Singer", in my culture these are the stories and songs we use to "heal" our people. I am also enrolled in the U of A studying medicine.

My mother's clan is "Created from the mountain"
My father's clan is "Salt people"

The Navajo live on the land, we follow the seasons. We raise our livestock and practice the arts and crafts our ancestors have taught us. We are a simple people with a rich history and culture.
Come with me, when you visit Northern Arizona and I will show you my country, the land of the ancestors the land of the Navajo.

WALK IN BEAUTY
Brian

Read Brian's blog here.

Below is one of the many wonderful letters we receive about our guides:

To Whom It May Concern:

I would just like to thank you for one of the most outstanding tours that I have had the opportunity to participate in. Yesterday, July 13th, 2006, my husband and I were escorted to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on your tour with the same name. As a new concierge here at Los Abrigados, I am excited to be able to tell guests about the tours, especially when I have actually experienced them.

We left Los Abrigados Resort and Spa on time on Thursday and were greeted by our guide, Brian Benally. ( I hope that I have spelled his name correctly.) He was very courteous and personable and made us feel very welcome and right at home. He started out the tour telling us about himself and spoke some Navajo, which I found absolutely fascinating, as I am a teacher of language by a previous profession. The ride up to the Canyon went very quickly as he continued to talk to us about the Navajo language, culture and peoples. Everyone was glued to their seats and overjoyed at the knowledge that he was willing to share with us. I learned so much that I wanted to start taking notes. I have a fear that I will not be able to remember it all. Brian told us many stories and answered a million questions. He was very patient.

Not only did he impart his knowledge about his people, he had an excellent background in the geology and plant life of the area. We talked about different types of cactus, where they grow best and what their possible medicinal uses might be. We talked about the different tribes in various areas of Arizona and their relationships to one another.

An added bonus to the trip was animal sightings. We saw an eagle, burrows, javelina, a wild turkey, a roadrunner, elk. I know that there was no way that could have been planned, but I felt that someone was looking out for us.

I have taken more than 50 pictures and will put them into a book that I am creating to be kept at the concierge desk. When someone asks me about the tour, I can not only tell them what a wonderful experience it was, but I can share some of the pictures. By the end of the trip, we wanted to adopt him.

I am looking forward to continue to work with your company.

Sincerely,

Ellie Diercksmeier