De Chelly Tours, Navajo owned and a family business that provide guided services into the canyon for over 60 years. It all started with our great-grandfather Chauncey Neboyia, who guided earlier Anthropologist/Archaeologist into the canyon. He was an informant, interpreter, and helped with excavation or restoration and stabilization of archaeological sites. He also helped a lot of earlier authors, artist and young writers who did their dissertation of Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Chauncey lived his life to the fullest in Canyon De Chelly, sadly the beginning of 2006, came with his passing. * * * |
| Chauncey Neboyia ---at his birth place near Big Cave. |
| Chauncey's Page |
| De Chelly Tours |
Chauncey...
The following article was sent from InsideNPS. The article can be found at
http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1130.
CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT
Passing of Chauncey Neboyia
Chauncey Neboyia, who worked for over 60 years with National park Service as an archaeologist,
consultant, interpreter, tour guide, and narrator for major film companies, passed away peacefully
on the afternoon of January 21st at the Chinle Indian Health Care Center with family and relatives
present.
Chauncey was known by many as the first Navajo Archaeologist, and worked with many early
Archaeologists, including Earl Morris at the Mummy Cave Ruin Site (1924-1934).
He began working for the NPS as a tour guide at Canyon de Chelly and also worked at Hubbell
Trading Post NHS, Aztec Ruins NM, Hovenweep NM, Chaco Canyon NHS and at Mesa Verde NP
from 1927 to 1934 with Archaeologist John Wade.
Chauncey Neboyia, a lifetime resident of Canyon de Chelly, was born on March 6, 1908, near Big
Cave in Canyon del Muerto. He is of the Water Flows Together Clan and born for the Salt People
Clan. Neboyia served with the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945 during World War II at Iwo Jima. He
took honors as a sharpshooter leader and became one of the legendary Navajo Code Talkers.
He considered Mummy Cave as one of his most memorable sites. In an interview last year, he
remarked on how the Mummy Cave site required reconstruction of the main tower. He remembered
"carrying bucket of mud clay to restore the tower, climbing up a talus slope over and over again.
18 cents was good income and $5 meant being rich," he added.
Chauncey also worked with many major film companies. His acting career included the following
credits Desert Song (1953), where he portrayed a character of a Navajo warrior fighting the Utes;
Indian Boy (1960), where he portrayed a silversmith; Billy Jack (1981); and Seasons of a Navajo,
where he narrated along with his family.
In 1993 Chauncey was awarded The Barboncito Leadership Award at the Canyon de Chelly Guide
Association Meeting for his many years of service and lifetime achievements by his colleagues and
the National Park Service.
Chauncey will be missed and remembered for his many contributions to Canyon de Chelly and
many national park units throughout the region.
The following article was sent from InsideNPS. The article can be found at
http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1130.
CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT
Passing of Chauncey Neboyia
Chauncey Neboyia, who worked for over 60 years with National park Service as an archaeologist,
consultant, interpreter, tour guide, and narrator for major film companies, passed away peacefully
on the afternoon of January 21st at the Chinle Indian Health Care Center with family and relatives
present.
Chauncey was known by many as the first Navajo Archaeologist, and worked with many early
Archaeologists, including Earl Morris at the Mummy Cave Ruin Site (1924-1934).
He began working for the NPS as a tour guide at Canyon de Chelly and also worked at Hubbell
Trading Post NHS, Aztec Ruins NM, Hovenweep NM, Chaco Canyon NHS and at Mesa Verde NP
from 1927 to 1934 with Archaeologist John Wade.
Chauncey Neboyia, a lifetime resident of Canyon de Chelly, was born on March 6, 1908, near Big
Cave in Canyon del Muerto. He is of the Water Flows Together Clan and born for the Salt People
Clan. Neboyia served with the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945 during World War II at Iwo Jima. He
took honors as a sharpshooter leader and became one of the legendary Navajo Code Talkers.
He considered Mummy Cave as one of his most memorable sites. In an interview last year, he
remarked on how the Mummy Cave site required reconstruction of the main tower. He remembered
"carrying bucket of mud clay to restore the tower, climbing up a talus slope over and over again.
18 cents was good income and $5 meant being rich," he added.
Chauncey also worked with many major film companies. His acting career included the following
credits Desert Song (1953), where he portrayed a character of a Navajo warrior fighting the Utes;
Indian Boy (1960), where he portrayed a silversmith; Billy Jack (1981); and Seasons of a Navajo,
where he narrated along with his family.
In 1993 Chauncey was awarded The Barboncito Leadership Award at the Canyon de Chelly Guide
Association Meeting for his many years of service and lifetime achievements by his colleagues and
the National Park Service.
Chauncey will be missed and remembered for his many contributions to Canyon de Chelly and
many national park units throughout the region.
| A small video clip of "Seasons of the Navajo" Visit www.kaet.asu.edu (Arizona Collection) |
| 1984 Produced by Peace River Films |
| Mummy Cave |
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