When my cousin Bobby Young first envisioned turning our sacred canyons into a sustainable tourism business, many in our family were skeptical. But Bobby understood something important - that by becoming stewards of these spaces through tourism, we could protect them while sharing their beauty with the world.
From Sacred Ground to Sustainable Tourism
In those early days, we watched as unregulated visitors would enter the canyons, sometimes leaving behind graffiti or showing disrespect to these sacred places. Bobby saw that we had a choice - we could either let others control access to our ancestral lands, or we could step forward as guardians who could both protect and share these precious spaces.
"We weren't looking at it as a money-making venture at first," I remember Bobby explaining. "We were looking at it as our responsibility to protect these canyons." With proper blessings from our medicine people and guidance from our elders, we began the journey of creating what would become Shun'Diin Canyon Tours.
Women at the Helm: Matrilineal Leadership in a Modern Business
In Navajo culture, we follow a matrilineal tradition, and this has shaped how we've structured our business. I'm proud to say that Shun'Diin Canyon Tours reflects this important aspect of our heritage, with strong women leading the way across generations.
My own journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship speaks to this tradition. After working at IBM and traveling across the country, I returned home not just to reconnect my children with their heritage, but to help build something lasting for our community. As I tell my sons, "We're not just building a business - we're creating a legacy."
Today, we're teaching the next generation, especially our young women, that they can be leaders in both business and culture. When visitors join our tours, they're often surprised to learn about our matrilineal traditions and how we've incorporated these values into a modern enterprise.
"I want young Native women to know they're stronger than they realize," I often say to our youth. "Through all the ups and downs, they can prevail." This message is woven into everything we do at Shun'Diin Canyon Tours, from our logo featuring a Native woman to our commitment to mentoring young entrepreneurs in our community.
Our story isn't just about business success - it's about cultural preservation, female empowerment, and creating opportunities for future generations. When you choose Shun'Diin Canyon Tours, you're not just booking a tour - you're becoming part of a legacy that honors our traditions while embracing the future.