WILD VOICES

Guiding on the San Juan River connects Cooley to her home landscape.

“We as women may The experience propelled her to begin have a different guiding with Wild Expeditions in 2009. Despite the introduction from her perspective in the sister, guiding on the river still feels way we tell stories, male-dominated to Cooley. However, she hopes to inspire other indigenous interact with the guests and how women to get into guiding. “I want to let other women know that we can be in this industry,” we connect to the river.” she explained. “I've been trying to encourage fellow indigenous women to try it out. There's a need for that. That's important! We as women may have a different perspective in the way we tell stories, interact with the guests and how we connect to the river.” Guiding on the San Juan helped forge her connection between the familiarity of her home landscape and its nearby waterway. “The San Juan River as a whole is special to me because it is home. It is sacred. It is a source of life for many. It has a rich history. It has untold stories. It is life. Before any of the state, federal and reservation boundaries, this place was, and to me is still, considered indigenous lands. There is more to this river basin than the recreational aspect. I enjoy the views atop San Juan Hill and seeing the Abajo Mountains to the north and the Mule's Ear Diatreme to the south.” Colleen stresses the importance of hiring indigenous guides. Wild Expeditions, the company she guides for, hires local and indigenous guides from the area. “I've gone with friends, family and people from all over the country, including people from Germany and Italy. Being with a Diné in our homelands is important. It provides a unique experience for the guests.” Though each trip is different, Colleen strives to share her personal connection to the river and landscape with the guests. “There's so much history to be told. There's so much knowledge about plants and wildlife along the river basin. Our ancestors migrated through this area, so I think there is a need to have our voices in this river and in this landscape.”

MORGAN SJOGREN is a free-range raconteur typically found roaming wild in the Colorado Plateau.

Trail runners glide through a stand of alpen trees on the picturesque Purgatory Flats Trail across from Purgatory Resort in Colorado. photo by Terrance Siemon