Growing up with one foot in both Western and Hopi cultures, Fort Lewis College alumnus Jack Pongyesva (Environmental Studies and Political Science, ’17) learned early on how to navigate two distinct ways of seeing the world.

 

Balancing the Western emphasis on higher education and career-building with the Hopi values of patience, intention, and connection to the land, he now applies both perspectives to his work as manager of the Intertribal Centennial Conversations group at the Grand Canyon Trust. His role focuses on bridging Indigenous knowledge and Western conservation efforts.

“My sister and I were always pushed to go to college and get a degree, to find a career path,” he said. “But in the Hopi world, time is your own to get done what needs to be done. I really do find that I walk in both worlds.”

 

Pongyesva returned to FLC on Feb. 27 to speak at the 2025 Confluence Seminar, where he shared his work ensuring that the 11 tribes with cultural and historical ties to the Grand Canyon have a voice in the park’s future. Nearly 60 people attended his talk, A Journey in Discovering Grand Canyon’s Unabated Call.

 

“The Grand Canyon is everything to me,” Pongyesva said. “It’s a place of healing, of purpose, and the work we’re doing is about making sure tribal communities are at the forefront of stewardship and education.”

 

His involvement began in 2018, when tribal members gathered to discuss their vision for the park. Through those conversations, they identified three core priorities: education, stewardship, and an economic paradigm that aligns with Indigenous values rather than traditional capitalist models.

 

“I was the note-taker at the time,” Pongyesva said. “It was an emotional and inspiring process—organizing all these ideas into something that could shape the park’s future.”

 

Since then, the group has worked to amplify Indigenous voices in conservation, support Native entrepreneurs, and provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the Grand Canyon’s Indigenous history. One of their key initiatives, the Emergence Summit, brings together Native business owners and organizations to discuss economic development in a way that respects tribal traditions.

 

“We support our Native entrepreneurs,” Pongyesva said. “This summit gives them a space to connect and build opportunities while staying true to Indigenous values.”

 

Education is also a major focus. By connecting with Tribal elders, the group ensures that cultural knowledge is shared with visitors, reinforcing the Grand Canyon’s significance beyond its status as a national park.

 

“Our elders are our greatest source of knowledge,” Pongyesva said. “We want people to visit with respect, understanding that the Grand Canyon isn’t just a tourist destination—it’s a deeply significant place for the Tribes connected to it.”

Returning to FLC was a full-circle moment for Pongyesva, who recalled being in high school and introducing Jody Mills, a former Olympian and Indigenous community speaker.

 

“I was so nervous,” he said. “To now be the one being introduced, it feels like a milestone. It’s an honor to be here.”