Nik Wallenda completed his tightrope walk across the Little Colorado Sunday, a gorge repeatedly referred to as “near the Grand Canyon.” What was often left out is that the gorge is on Navajo Nation land and that the nearby Hopi people, who hold the area as a site of sacred importance, strongly objected to the stunt.
The nearby Hopi claim they were never consulted about the walk, despite an agreement between the tribes to honor religious sites. 鈥淭he Gorge and the Canyon are not about taking lives,鈥 Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, director of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, told the news outlet . 鈥淲e were told that this guy is not wanting to wear a safety harness. What if he does fall? It鈥檚 another cultural dilemma for the Hopi people.鈥
Wallenda worked with Navajo Nation after the National Park Service refused to grant access to the Grand Canyon. Representatives of the service 鈥渕ust not unreasonably impair the park鈥檚 atmosphere of peace and tranquility,鈥 noting that stunts 鈥渄on鈥檛 meet that [criteria].鈥
Wallenda spent more than 10 months seeking clearance to perform on Navajo Nation land, and his team agreed to clean up the remnants of Philippe Petit鈥檚 unsuccessful attempt to cross the gorge in 1988 as well as to construct a paved road and parking lot鈥攑aid for by NBC鈥攊nto the previously inaccessible area in return for permission.
鈥淚 have been praying for improvements to Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park ever since I started,鈥 Navajo Nation Park Manager Helen Webster announced. 鈥淚t is amazing to know just how many people from throughout the world will be able to catch a glimpse of our beautiful Navajo culture. After they see the video, I hope they will want to visit the Navajo Nation.鈥