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grand canyon
December 2008 
My Visit to Peach Springs, Capital of the Hualapai Nation
Posted on Feb 10th, 2007
by 
Jeff Mishlove
Jeff Mishlove
Yesterday and the day before I was in Peach Springs, AZ. And, I will return there again tomorrow. I have been there interviewing elders of the Hualapai Tribe concerning their culture and values -- as part of a project that my company, TMI US, is doing in behalf of the Hualapai Grand Canyon Resort. The Hualapai own about a million acres of land along the Grand Canyon. Within a month or two, they plan to open a spectacular new feature -- a 4,000 foot high skywalk! So, we are helping them to upgrade their customer service culture in preparation for a major new influx of visitors.
Although they possess some incredible real-estate, the Hualapai are a small tribe -- with only about 2,300 members. They were once a nomadic people and occupied an area about five or six times the size of their present reservation. Like many other native-American people, they are struggling to maintain important aspects of their culture while simultaneously engaging in a process of modernization and assimilation. An important aspect of their culture, being expressed to me by their elders, are the wakes they hold to honor the death and passing of their members into the spirit world. These events involve a full night of singing and dancing to help the departed soul in its journey.
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