hangs on a wall of a Native Americanmuseum in Washington, D.C.Before long, Lionel’s grandparents– experts with deep knowledge on thearea – started guiding the non-Nativewoman down Antelope Canyon, orTsébighánílíní or Tsébii’ Hazdeestas inDiné bizaad (Navajo language).“They took the jeep (into thecanyon) and we would stop and (mygrandmother) would talk about the cacti,”Lionel explained. “We’d drive downand that’s when tourism started for us.”Today, people from all over theworld stop by to see Antelope Canyonwith this tour operator situated atmilepost 302 on State Route 98. Andit has some of the best guides, the bestitineraries, and the best value.In fact, this tour operator has anagreement with Amangiri, the ultra-luxuryresort in nearby CanyonPoint, Utah, to provide tours to theirhigh-end clients.Carol’s business though is still fairlynew. She started the legwork in 2009when she ventured outside her brother’stour operator business, where sheworked after she retired as an educator.Concurrently, Lionel was an engineeringstudent at the University of Arizonawhere he thoroughly took in a particularengineering management courseand used it take the family business tothe next level.“I understood the dynamics of operatinga business,” Lionel said. “So, weturned four products into 14 products.We have the three extra canyons thatwe go to (as well), so it’s four canyons.”Adventurous Antelope CanyonPhoto Tour operates 14 trips, spanningfour slot canyons – Mountain Sheep,Owl, Rattlesnake, and Upper Antelope.Each trip is designed to reflect travelers’broad spectrum of interests.“So, a lot of hiking, photography,and a lot of colors to see,” said Lionel,a professional, fine art photographerwho owns a galleria in Page as well.“That’s who we are as adventurists.”This tour operator provides morethan 60 jobs during its peak season andaround 25 jobs during the off season.The business sees up to 400 people aday.“We’re busy 10 months out of theyear,” Lionel said. “So, for us as a family,we’ve been doing this for three decades.We have a connection to MotherEarth to be able to do this because wehave songs, prayers, and offerings. Wegive offerings to the canyons, so for usthat connection is there.”“That’s how we’re able to have alivelihood,” he added, “how we’re ableto have jobs and how we’re able to feedfamilies.”Carol also makes an effort to helpthe nearby community of LeChee bysupporting the senior center, the veterans’organization, and other programs.There are five tour operators inUpper Antelope Canyon and two touroperators in Lower Antelope Canyon,according to Navajo Parks and Recreation.At least two operators – DixieEllis’ Lower Antelope Canyon Toursowned by Dixie L. Ellis and Ken’sTours owned by Kenny N. Young – arerelated to the Bigthumb family. Ellisand Young are siblings.Information: navajoantelopecanyon.com30 GATEWAY TO CANYON COUNTRY
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