Tsé Bii´ Ndzisgai

Tsé Bii´ Ndzisgai 

(White Streaks Amidst the Rocks, the Valley within the Rock) 

(tseeh-bee-ni-zees-kay)

This is the name that the Diné  - “We Navajo People call ourselves Diné, “The People” - gave to what we know as Monument Valley. John Wayne called it “God’s Treasure”.

Unlike the Pueblos, who developed large and complex farming communities, the ancestors to the Navajos lived mainly by hunting and gathering. Tsé Bii´ Ndzisgai is considered the Dine homeland and continues to sustain life through simple living.

We arrived just as the sun was setting and despite the many busloads of tourists re-routed from the closed Grand Canyon that were in the parking lot, we managed to get the last room at the View Hotel, which is within the Navajo Nation tribal territory.  Our room didn't have an overlooking balcony, but at least we were set for the night -- and there.

We looked around some, had Navajo dinners at the restaurant, and decided to take the self-guided valley drive and do a couple of hikes in the morning ...

Monument Valley is 5,564 feet above sea level and extends into Arizona and Utah.  These majestic rock structures are created by erosion and inspire the unique artwork (handwoven rugs, sand paintings, pottery and jewelry) of the Diné,  The sandstone absorbs water, creating underground aquifers that provides moisture for crops and adequate grazing for livestock.