Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 8, 2013 Page 7

& MAKE IT A GREAT DAY

was unaware of Chimney Rock National Monument until earlier this summer when I was invited to attend the Native American Cultural Gathering there. It is Colorados newMy est monument, View designated on Archaeological Area. Surveyor Columnist Sept. 12, 2012. The mission of CRIA is to provide an It is located in enjoyable and educational experience for southwest Colothe member and the general public who rado, about 30 visit the monument, while being sensiminutes west of tive to native cultures and assisting the Pagosa Springs. U.S. Forest Service in protecting the site. You may As you may have guessed, the site think, like I is being protected for more than just did, that its geological reasons. The site has historical Chimney Rock significance, as well as spiritual signifiand Companion cance, to many Native American tribes. Rock, two spires Heidi jutting out of the That is because Ancestral Puebloans Kerr-Schlaefer built more than 200 homes and ceremodry landscape, nial structures in the area; some have that make this been excavated and other still remain place unique, under ground. but these geological wonders are just the There were no walking tours availtip of the iceberg. able when we visited, because the Native The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the American Cultural Gathering, an annual president authority to designate national event, took priority. If we had taken monuments in order to protect objects of historic or scientific interest. Since 1906, the guided tour we would have seen the Great House and Chimney Rock itself. more than 100 national monuments have Despite the many interpretive signs been created, including seven in Coloon the walking trail rado. National leading down to the monuments are Native American currently manCultural Gathering aged by agencies; site, I learned that including the much of what is National Park written on the signs Service, Forest are educated guessService, Fish and es. There is still Wildlife Service very little known or Bureau of about the site. Land ManageWe do not know ment. why the Ancestral From midPuebloans estabMay through Photo by Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer lished a community September, there and why they guided walking Aztec dancer tells the story of one of the tours are avail- dances they will perform during the Native left so abruptly. Every 18.6 years, able at Chimney American Cultural Gathering at Chimney a lunar standstill Rock National Monument. Rock National takes place at Monument, a Chimney Rock, 4,700-acre site. Since 1988 the Chimney and during the winter solstice the moon Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA), a rises perfectly between the rocks, fram501(c)(3) nonprofit, has partnered with ing an incredible scene that can only be the U.S. Forest Service to protect the observed from the Great House Pueblo. historical resources of the Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock National Monument I

Chimney Rock National Monument.

Photo from www.chimneyrockco.org

This has led some to believe the area was actually an ancient school for astronomy, but no one can know for sure. The next predicted alignment is in 2022. The Native American Cultural Gathering takes place at Chimney Rock every July and brings together multiple tribes who come to reconnect with their spirituality and who allow the public a chance to connect with Native American culture through dance and art. We spent the morning watching Aztec and Hopi tribesmen and women perform intricate and beautiful dances. I was reminded of my own multiple heritages Irish, Scottish and Korean and how each have dance at their cultural core. What I took away from my day at the Native American Cultural Gathering at Chimney Rock is that human beings really arent all that different from one another. Sometimes we do not realize this until we have the opportunity to explore a culture that, at first, may seem very different from our own. For more information go to ChimneyRockCo.org.

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