Our guide, David Wilson, is a 45-year guide of the canyon. We were alone with him in a jeep. He had been born in a male hogan (one that looks like a yurt as opposed to a female hogan which has a rounded roof) way up the canyon. He inherited the land from both his mother and father and runs cattle in the canyon bottom and raises fruit on the mesa. He also raises sheep, goats, turkeys, and chickens. His marriage was arranged by his mother and he's still married to the same woman. They have six children and he has adopted seven more (his nieces and nephews). He has worked with archaeologists in the canyon and has helped excavate ruins. He knew Tony Hillerman. He was a fabulous guide. He stopped at numerous sites with pictographs in the canyon while the other guides (often with large groups in trucks) zipped by.
The above pictograph shows kokopeli (on his back with his flute). The story goes that he went around planting seeds (including corn) which he carried in the basket on his back and playing the flute to help them grow. That is why he is often represented as hunched over. Hand prints are like signatures.
This pictograph shows a crippled man. Note that his right leg is shorter than his left and his arms are bent like he is holding crutches.
This pictograph shows a hunt. There were others showing arrows shot at game and horsemen chasing game. There was one whole wall, called the newspaper wall, that was covered with petroglyphs.
This last picture is Hopi in origin and shows deer painted in brown and white. It was located at White Mesa.
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