Introduction
Transcript
Introduction
Greeting in Keres [“Hello, everybody! How are you?”]
Greetings and welcome to this special place called Mesa Verde National Park. My name is Thelma Jean Atsye, TJ for short, and I am a park ranger here at Mesa Verde. I am Laguna Pueblo, a direct descendent of the people who used to live here and part of a continuous evolution of Pueblo people.
I love working here at Mesa Verde because I am able to share about my people, my heritage, and my culture. Please join me as we explore the Mesa Top Loop. At the ten stops along this six-mile drive, we will follow the footsteps left here by my Pueblo ancestors and discover their Mesa Verde—a story of success, innovation, trial, and survival.
1500 years ago, Ancestral Pueblo people began to set down permanent roots here on Mesa Verde, and for the next 700 years, generations of people called this place home. They built villages on the mesa tops and in the cliffs. They grew crops, raised their children, and produced beautiful art and pottery. In the 1200s, they moved on.
I would like visitors to know that we didn't just leave and disappear. When the ancestors left Mesa Verde, they migrated toward the south, where we still live today in 21 Pueblos in the states of New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Each Pueblo group is unique, but we share many things. We carry on many of the same traditions as our ancestors did. We sing the same songs, dance the same dances, play the same games, and tell the same stories.
I would like our visitors to know that this is more than just a national park and a World Heritage Site. This is still a living place. We still make pilgrimages back to Mesa Verde to visit the ancestors and gather strength and resilience from them.
I ask you to please visit with respect. I hope that when you hear our stories, you will begin to see these places as we do—not as ruins, but as homes. Remember the ancestors wherever you go. Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean that they aren’t there. If you are genuine and true and respectful, the ancestors will welcome you. I hope that you will learn from this place and not just about it.
Please take your time, drive carefully, park sensibly, and be considerate of others. When you arrive at the next stop, press "next track" to hear the next part of the story. You can also follow along from your home or school to explore Mesa Verde virtually.
Introduction to the Mesa Verde National Park, Mesa Top Loop Drive audio tour.