GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — The cultures and lifeways of North America’s original inhabitants are tremendously diverse, varying significantly with geographical location and era. Every National Park Service unit, including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, encompasses the ancestral lands and sacred sites of various Native American tribal nations. 

“The park is honored to work closely with the sovereign governments of 29 tribes and pueblos which have ancestral ties to this landscape. This year, Great Sand Dunes was fortunate to host three special events with members of two affiliated tribes. Both the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation shared their traditional knowledge and culture during several public programs,” park officials stated. 

In May, fourth-graders from the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in New Mexico were in the park for a two-day field trip along with fourth graders from the nearby Sangre de Cristo School District. Jicarilla Apache Park Ranger Jaiden Garcia led interpretive programming along with tribal elders and artisans. Rocky Mountain PBS filmed the field trip as part of a documentary on Jicarilla Apache culture that will also be integrated into the Colorado 4th grade history curriculum:  

In August, Shawn Price and the Dine’ Tah Navajo Dancers presented traditional dances and a lecture on the profound significance of treaties between the U.S. government and sovereign tribal nations. 

And in October, Navajo (Dine’) sand painter Mitchell Silas presented a very engaging sand painting workshop, where participants created their own unique, permanent sand painting to take home. Silas created a larger sand painting that was impermanent, meant to be released to the wind when completed. 

“We are grateful to this year’s presenters for sharing your culture and lifeways,” park officials stated. 

Cultural events in 2025 will be posted on park social media and calendar page www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.