Marshall Masayesva’s Mission to Create a Conservation Corps for Hopi Youth

By Zak Podmore While he was growing up on the arid, remote Hopi Nation in northern Arizona, Marshall Masayesva never paddled a kayak or went backpacking. People who lived in his community spent a lot of time outdoors, but the term “recreation” was seldom uttered; Masayesva never thought of himself as an outdoors person. That … Continue reading Marshall Masayesva’s Mission to Create a Conservation Corps for Hopi Youth

The Tiny Town Beauty Pageant and Government Grant Contest

Story by Dessa Hadenfeldt Bluff had been looking forward to this since the moment she heard she was incorporated. Backstage was thrilling, and everywhere she looked there was color. And smells. She could feel them going to her head. Fresh and salt water sprays. Palm and aspen leaves. Cactus and apple fruits. Earth rich with … Continue reading The Tiny Town Beauty Pageant and Government Grant Contest

Could San Juan County Become San Juan Counties?

An amendment that's being called the "Phil Bill" seeks to make it easier for counties to split apart without majority approval Published: February 7, 2019 A proposed amendment to two dozen words in the Utah code that dictates how counties are formed could have profound consequences in San Juan County. Currently, residents in a Utah … Continue reading Could San Juan County Become San Juan Counties?

Commission Briefs (2/5/19): Road from Navajo Mountain to Oljato, CRAs, and a San Juan County Railroad?

Much of Tuesday's county commission meeting focused on resolutions related to Bears Ears National Monument, which the Canyon Echo covered at length, but there were also other topics of discussion. Natalie Randall, the county's Director of Economic Development and Tourism, presented information to the commissioners on Community Reinvestment Areas (CRAs), which the school district declined … Continue reading Commission Briefs (2/5/19): Road from Navajo Mountain to Oljato, CRAs, and a San Juan County Railroad?

Behind the Shot: Bluff Photographer Paul Martini

Photos and words by Paul Martini A few years ago a photog friend and I hiked to a cliff dwelling in southeast Utah just as a ferocious monsoonal downpour struck. A flash flood came over the pour-off above the alcove. Initially we tried to shelter in the alcove, but there was this high-velocity blast of … Continue reading Behind the Shot: Bluff Photographer Paul Martini

Letter to the Editor: Waste Management Options for Town of Bluff

By Dudley Beck With no prior communication or discussion with Town of Bluff officials, the Bluff Transfer Station was closed by the San Juan County Commissioners on November 17, 2018, exchanging the site to the Hole in the Rock Foundation for land yet to be identified. Prior to this closure, Bluff residents carried their own … Continue reading Letter to the Editor: Waste Management Options for Town of Bluff

Resolutions in support of Bears Ears National Monument discussed at San Juan County commission meeting

By Zak Podmore The first majority-Native American commission in San Juan County history is showing no aversion to controversial issues. At their second meeting since being seated last month, newly elected commissioners Kenneth Maryboy and Willie Grayeyes--along with incumbent Bruce Adams--held a well-attended work session in Monticello on Tuesday to discuss resolutions in support of … Continue reading Resolutions in support of Bears Ears National Monument discussed at San Juan County commission meeting

EVENT | Desert Cabal: Expanding the Desert Narrative

A Conversation with Amy Irvine, Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, and Kirsten Johanna Allen How can the stories we tell protect the places we love? Join Friends of Cedar Mesa and Torrey House Press for a conversation on the unique ways desert communities can organize around and diversify narratives to protect our red rock landscapes. This event kicks … Continue reading EVENT | Desert Cabal: Expanding the Desert Narrative