5165 - An oral history with Toby Owl, 1975 August 6

File

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The contents of the Samuel Moon Monument Valley Oral History Collection consist of oral histories, transcripts, and records documenting the history of Monument Valley and Four Corners area. The oral histories are from those who lived in this area between the 1900s-1970s and pertain to Goulding’s trading post (one of the most well-known trading posts of the 20th century)and its owner/operator Harry Goulding, the Navajo tribe, sheep ranching, local tourism, uranium mining, and the western movies made in the valley.

Dates

1975 August 6

Language Note

The interviewee speaks Navajo throughout the interview, with an interpreter translating into English for the interviewer. The transcripts are in English. The transcript also indicates that Owl may be speaking Ute at times.

Extent

1 Cassettes

1 Files (Verbatim transcript (12 pages))

3 digital objects (Abstract and digitized copy of cassette recordings)

Additional Description

Abstract

In the interview, Owl talks about his childhood, his grandfather, and what life was like for the Paiute when he was a boy; he describes the relationship between the Navajo and the Paiute people; discusses the Paiute tribes all moving from the Monument Valley up to Blanding; recalls working for Jim Mike on his cattle ranch; talks about the Navajo families that lived in the area; and recounts how Jim Mike and Owl’s brother Nasta Begay discovered Rainbow Bridge.