A comparative study of the planning and management of Monument Valley Tribal Park and Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Monument Valley Tribal Park and Canyon de Chelly National Monument are two world class sites that are both situated within the Navajo Reservation. The former is a Navajo Tribal Park and the latter is a unit in the United States National Park System. A review of legislative and administrative histories reveals that most Navajos did not understand the significance of land withdrawal at the time of park establishment and that after unsure beginnings each site is currently managed with greater responsiveness to local residents. In recent years there have been significant increases in visitation at each site. As a direct result of tribal planning and management policy changes, Monument Valley has substantially increased visitor services and park employment opportunities while Canyon de Chelly has been subject to federal budget cutbacks. Problems associated with oral promises to local residents are also discussed.