Cultural Demonstration Program
Sharing the canyon's cultural heritage with visitors.
A home is a special place to everyone. It is a place of comfort, it holds our history, and it is our sanctuary. Grand Canyon has been a quiet home and sacred space to 11 different tribes within the Southwest. Native peoples and their ancestors have been in this area for countless generations. Even though Grand Canyon has been a National Park for over a hundred years, it is not just a National Park, it is a sacred place and home to many.
Through symbols, patterns, and designs, native art of the Southwest displays the everyday life, beliefs, dreams, visions, and long-lasting traditions of the tribes. Grand Canyon National Park established a Cultural Demonstration Program in 2015 at Desert View as a way to give members of the 11 Grand Canyon tribal communities a first-person voice here at the canyon. This program encourages interactions with the public through demonstrations of traditional native crafts.
Follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our YouTube channel to view the History Behind the Arts social media series that explores the rich history of these people, their traditional native crafts, how they have been influenced over time, and learn about the artists who carry on this heritage.
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Explore demonstrators by craft
Explore the online gallery by craft below to learn more about the inspiring artists that participate in the Cultural Demonstration Program and History Behind the Arts program.
About the Cultural Demonstration Program
Grand Canyon Conservancy is committed to preserving cultural heritage at Grand Canyon through this educational program as well as the transformation of the Desert View area to reflect the diverse history of the tribes who call Grand Canyon home.
Jointly hosted with Grand Canyon National Park, the Cultural Demonstration Program was created so park visitors may learn about the long history and rich cultures of the canyon's traditionally associated tribes directly from the artisans and community members of those tribes. As such, the Park and the Conservancy comply with the Indian Arts and Craft Act of 1990, ensuring that every art and craft product is marketed truthfully to consumers regarding the Indian heritage and tribal affiliation of the producer.
The program is made possible with support and grants from Grand Canyon Conservancy and ArtPlace America.
Demonstrations are free and open to the public and take place Tuesday - Thursday at various Desert View locations, most often in and around Desert View Watchtower. For more information on the Cultural Demonstration Program, visit the park's website here.
The early inhabitants of the southwest had jewelry and adornments made of rock, animal, and plant materials. While American Indians have been making jewelry since ancient times, silversmithing was not introduced until the latter part of the nineteenth century. The Diné learned silversmithing from New Mexican Hispanos by the 1850s. Today’s contemporary work shows that artists are free to merge their own inspirations with the skills and traditions they have been passed down for generations.
Earth, water, and fire are the elements of pottery. Many Native potters believe creating vessels are an opportunity to bond with the land and with the past. Clay vessels have been made for storage and household use in Indigenous Southwest societies for nearly 2,000 years. Pottery is a complex art form to master. It requires learning a complex series of tasks and knowing how materials will react to firing.
Note: Cultural Demonstrators are independent participants in the program and are not employees of the National Park Service or Grand Canyon Conservancy. The Park and the Conservancy are not party to any purchase or agreement made between producers and consumers. The Park and the Conservancy disclaim all liability for loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, or consequential), personal injury or expense of any nature whatsoever, from any transaction or purchase from Cultural Demonstrators through this site. The Park and the Conservancy offer no warranty for sales, shipping, or other agreements.
Contact us to receive more information about this project.
GCC Philanthropy Team
