My name is Marty Hulsebos and I've been a passionate landscape photographer since the late 1980's.
This photo trek lead me to the aspen groves of the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff Arizona. Here is the history of those peaks, revered by the Hopi Indians.
Long ago, in what is now northern Arizona, a mighty volcano erupted, forming the San Francisco Peaks. Nearly 400,000 years ago, these peaks burst forth in fire and molten stone, and over millennia, they became home to lush groves of aspens, vibrant against the dark slopes. To the Hopi people, these peaks—known as Nuvatukya’ovi—were sacred, a place where the kachinas, powerful spirits, dwelled, bringing rain, guidance, and balance to the land.
For generations, the Hopi honored the peaks as a sacred temple, journeying through aspen stands to offer prayers to the kachinas. But in modern times, outsiders arrived, unaware of the mountain’s spiritual power. Developers saw the slopes as prime terrain for a ski resort, and logging companies sought to strip the aspens for profit. The Hopi’s sacred mountain was at risk of desecration, its groves of aspens and ancient paths threatened by bulldozers.
Among the Hopi, a young man named Talavai felt a deep stirring within him. The mountain had long appeared in his dreams, and he knew it called him to protect it. Seeking the blessing of the village elders, he listened as they shared tales of Lomahongva, an ancestor who had defended Nuvatukya’ovi in times past. With their encouragement, Talavai gathered strength, rallying allies from neighboring tribes who also revered the peaks.
He took his cause to courts and councils, fighting to preserve the sacred land. Talavai spoke of the mountain’s ancient history as a volcano, the lush aspen groves, and the spirit world it held within. His words reached hearts beyond his people, awakening a respect for the mountain’s past and the Hopi’s spiritual connection to it.
Though the ski resort remained, Talavai’s battle won protections for parts of the mountain and raised awareness of the Hopi’s sacred bond. He returned to his village a hero, knowing he had honored the mountain’s spirit. Nuvatukya’ovi, with its stands of aspens, stood proud—a symbol of resilience and the enduring strength of the Hopi people.
