Native American names for the Grand Canyon

Hopi
Hopi place name for the Grand Canyon is "Ongtupqa..Salt Canyon", named for the Hopi salt gathering pilgrimages conducted after each men's ritual initiations to the aptly name "Hopi Salt Mines".  The Colorado River is called by an archaic name "Pisisvayu".  

Diné (Navajo)
There are words that describes the Grand Canyon: Bi'daa Ha'azt'i

Havasupai

Hualapai

Paiute
The Kaibab and Shivwits bands called the Colorado River Pawhaw meaning Big water. The Moapa band called the Colorado river Chuhcheep.

Yavapai-Apache Nation
The Yavapai word for the Grand Canyon is "Wii gah iil lah"  translated - the deep canyon.

The Apache description is Ché Dá meaning a rock cliff, as in a steep dropoff

Zuni
The Zuni word for Grand Canyon is Chimik’yana’kya

Native Voices on the Colorado River

Joelle Clark, Program Director
Northern Arizona University
PO Box 15200
Flagstaff, Az. 86011

joelle.clark@nau.edu
tel 928.523.8797
fax 928.523.9135