Donald Davis age 11, of Spokane, Wash. for his question:
Who are the Havasupai Indians?
The tourist rates Gland Canyon among the scenic wonders of the world. The geologist regards this deep ditch as a priceless encyclopedia* The rocky layers of the canyon walls are pages of geological history dating bank a million, million years. To the Havasupai Indians, this picturesque history book is home. For this family of less than X00, the only Havasupais in the world, live at the bottom of Grand Canyon.
They have lived here for centuries and no one knows for sure how it all started. Long, long ago they may have been wanqsrera over the deserts. Some suggest that they wars peaceful people, harassed and tormented by the warlike Apaches. Perhaps this is why they decided to settle in their hidden retreat, They stayed long after the Apache threat was over for another reason. Down there on the floor of Grand Canyon, the Havasupais have made an ideal way of life for themselves.
Havasu Canyon is a branch of Grand Canyon in the western part of the National Park. From the top, we look down, terrace by terrace, past slices of rainbow colored rocks to the floor of Havasu Canyon a mile below. The canyon was cut by the clearest of streams on its way to loin the busy Colorado river. The Indians who found it named it Havasu creek, meaning blue‑green water. The tribal name Havasupai means People of the Blue‑Green Water. Two tricky trails, 12 to 14 miles longs wind and twist down the steep canyon walls.
The flat floor of the canyon is a picture book of neat meadows end corn fields, of orchards and shady groves of cottonwood. Old time hogans and painted wooden cottages add life to the scenery and crystal clear Havasu crack gallops and gurgles through the center of the village. Sometimes visitors and goods arrive by helicopter. But most outside contact is by one of those steep mule trails.
In the village there is a school with a little steeple and a bell. To the sensible young Havasupai' learning is a game. Playtime is crowded with riding and rodeo tricks: farming and handicrafts. The mown‑ups relax with steam baths and sing songs. And every one enjoys the western movies which are shown in the school house. The young fellas follow this with, of all things, a game of cowboys and Indians.
From time to time, a few Havasupai leave home to work perhaps in Grand Canyon National Park. However, they are sure to return to their wonderful land by the Blue‑Gram Water. Havasupais are skilled farmers and put their 200 acres or so of rich, irrigated bottomland to good use. They grow corn and beans, squash and apricots, lush peaches, melons and figs. The women weave baskets for sale and prepare soft, white deer skins from secret recipes. The young men shins as rodeo performers. The Havasupai day is crowded with things to do and no one can tell where work ends and play begins.