Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona

The Havasupai Indian Reservation in Arizona is home to a large settlement of some of the most ancient tribes people in the region, if not the country's smallest tribe. Their incredible history has helped to shape the local area, and have shared their skills and craftsmanship with many of the European pioneers who came to settle the lands not so long ago.

For eight hundred years, the Havasupai Indian nation has occupied the land around the Grand Canyon in Arizona. They were clever artisans, who foraged the lands until the arrival of the settlers, and were finally ousted from their tribal lands and put onto a much smaller reservation land within the canyon.

The tribal name literally translates to 'people of the turquoise waters'. They now number only six hundred, and once benefited from farming the land and having a plentiful supply of fruits, vegetables, meat and water.

Before the arrival of the settlers, they would occupy the canyon during the summer and then in the winter, move to the higher grounds around the canyon rim. They would hunt local wildlife for food and clothing, and create some of the most attractive baskets and pottery in bright turquoises and ocher.

Interestingly enough, the first missionary to the canyon spoke with affection about this tribe. He admired their hard working and happy nature. He was amazed, as people are today, with the incredible pictographic recordings of daily life that was left inside the cave homes and specially built storehouses within the cliffs. However, today, the run of tourists visiting their lands and reservation is making it harder and harder for them to preserve their once thriving culture.