During our day in Bryce Canyon, we spent sometime at Rainbow Point, the most southern point in the park(and supposedly the best spot to watch and photograph sunsets at Bryce--alas it was cloudy the day we were there and we couldn't get a good shot, warrants another visit for sure.)
The views were spectacular, but what caught my eye was a story posted on one of the plaques at that view point.
"Before there were any Indians, the Legend People, To-when-an-ung-wa, lived in that place. There were many of them. They were of many kinds – birds, animals, lizards and such things, but they looked like people. They were not people. They had power to make themselves look that way. For some reason the Legend People in that place were bad; they did something that was not good, perhaps a fight, perhaps some stole something….the tale is not clear at this point. Because they were bad, Coyote turned them all into rocks. You can see them in that place now all turned into rocks; some standing in rows, some sitting down, some holding onto others. You can see their faces, with paint on them just as they were before they became rocks. The name of that place is Angka-ku-wass-a-wits (red painted faces). This is the story the people tell."
This was the legend of the Paiute Indians, who occupied the area around Bryce starting at 1200 A.D.I thought this was very interesting, and I believe that is why the pinnacles were called hoodoos, things that bring bad luck.
Comments (6)
It's a cool legend. And those are some magnificent rocks!
Posted by Annie | November 5, 2009 12:29 PM
Posted on November 5, 2009 12:29
Hi Candi, wow Bryce Canyon looks amazing. Your photos are beautiful. And that is such an interesting legend! I hope to be able to see this incredible scene in person some day.
Thanks so much for sharing your photos and the story about the interesting legend. Have a great evening!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | November 5, 2009 9:06 PM
Posted on November 5, 2009 21:06
Stunning pictures - what a great spot to get out and hike.
Posted by Jerry | November 6, 2009 4:14 AM
Posted on November 6, 2009 04:14
Very cool. I love Native American Indian legends. Those rocks are amazing!
Posted by girasoli | November 7, 2009 11:14 PM
Posted on November 7, 2009 23:14
Amazing photos, Candi. Reading the legend sure makes one look at the rocks in more detail.
Posted by María I. | November 8, 2009 11:01 AM
Posted on November 8, 2009 11:01
An interesting legend, Candi -- and your photos are spectacular. What a gorgeous spot.
Posted by sandrac | November 10, 2009 7:44 PM
Posted on November 10, 2009 19:44