At the onset of COVID-19, Douglas and his girlfriend, Emily were living on the road in a van. Limited water, food storage, showers, and bathrooms became the top concerns for living this lifestyle during this time. Not to mention being confined to 70 square feet of livable space with two dogs. It was time for a reset.

After only 11 months in the van, they had to shelter in place at a home in Arizona. The original plan was to continue their nomadic way for at the very least two years. They imagined traveling the country and eventually landing in a place on their terms to call home. However, this shift in plans has brought a newfound appreciation for having a home to live in.

This is a time to slow down and appreciate the simple things left behind once on the road. There’s a lot to be said for a bathroom with a shower and a spacious kitchen to cook your meals in. But at the end of the day, the road calls Douglas and Emily. Living at home can feel like groundhog’s day, repeating the same routines over and over. There’s the thrill of camping and cooking outdoors with pristine mountain views. Freedom in spacious landscapes.

Sheltering in Arizona has provided some remote locations for which to venture out for fresh air safely. They take one-night camping ventures were the dogs are able to run free, enjoy a few nights of campfires, and the simple pleasures of the outdoors. A great reprieve as they wait for the time to hit the road once again.

Photography by Mike Penn Jr

Medicine Bow Lodge opened as a guest ranch on July 15, 1917. Jessie More and her brother-in-law George “Baldy” Sisson built the lodge to give people from the east a place to vacation. Since 2002, Tim and Debbie Bishop have owned and managed Medicine Bow Lodge. The lodge remains the ideal escape for folks from the crowded, busy cities to come be surrounded by peace and serenity. Medicine Bow Lodge is located in the Snowy Range Mountains of Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest.

Debbie and Tim Bishop bought Medicine Bow Lodge in 2002. Debbie recalls,

Nineteen years later, they found themselves amid the Snowy Range Mountains at 8,200 in elevation in the great state of Wyoming, as official managers, and owners of Medicine Bow Lodge. As of today, they have been married for thirty-six years.

While this was a big transition for both of them, they supported one another. No matter the challenges, they both agreed that running the ranch is very rewarding because of the people who stay with them.

Medicine Bow Lodge operates as a guest dude ranch during late spring, summer, and fall. The ranch is known for its diverse horseback riding program. Tim, along with his staff of handpicked wranglers go out of their way to make certain the young, and young at heart feel confident and comfortable in the saddle. The trails take you through the pristine snowy range mountains and meadows giving you breathtaking views wherever you look.

My name is Tyana Arviso. I am a freelance, Navajo artist. I reside in the high desert of southwest Colorado. Things are a bit different on this corner of the earth, both desert and mountain landscapes sit in my backyard. My heart gravitates towards the desert, it is my sanctuary.

Photography by Heath Herring

My interest in photography began when I was 16. I would tag along with my mother, who is also a photographer, on her evenings out. I remember her being the first person I knew who really enjoyed the outdoors. She has that rambling personality about her, always ready for an adventure. On one of these outings I randomly began taking photos, I shot on my iPhone. My interest became more serious, I started learning about film. Eventually, I began to shoot and develop on film. I did this for about two years. My parents have always been supportive of my creativity when I graduated high school they gifted me my first DSLR camera. That is when things started taking off creatively.

Throughout my creative journey, I’ve established a connection to the land. I hope to remain connected to the land. It’s hard to explain this connection, it is sacred. I’m thankful my eyes have opened and have seen the natural beauty of Mother Earth and Father Sky. I couldn’t imagine living a life with my eyes closed.

Tom Mix 6X

I gather inspiration from the colors of the earth, from the light of the sun and the moon. Including the feeling, I get when my feet are on the ground & when my heart and soul are wandering aimlessly. The land is a kingdom for inspiration, you must be willing to see its beauty in its many forms.

With my work comes deep respect for the sacredness of certain situations. Especially when visiting certain places or connecting with others. For example, it is considered a taboo to visit ancient ancestral ruins within the Navajo tradition. I am a landscape photographer, I often encounter these sacred places. When I encounter these sacred places, I try my best to keep my distance. If I must get close I say, “I am just passing by, I do not mean any harm or negativity. Thank you for allowing me in your space.”. Often times these sacred spaces were once homes and places of sacred worship. If you think about it, you don’t just walk into somebody’s house unannounced. That’s disrespectful. When you enter a sacred place, it is important to be mindful of your actions and intentions. Respect the space as if you were in someone else’s home.

As I get older I realize how resilient my people are. We are more than this hardship, this hardship is not our story. Today we are here reclaiming our cultural identity with the help of resources that are much more obtainable than they were a couple years ago.

I always enjoy each opportunity I get to hear of creation stories and learning the meaning of things we use today. Turquoise is one example. Turquoise jewelry isn’t a fashion trend, it holds a much deeper and sacred meaning. To wear turquoise is a way to be identified by the creator, so you are given blessings and protection. It is a piece that is worn daily and during special ceremonies. Navajo Moccasins (Kélchí) are very sacred as well, “Ké” meaning shoes & “lichí” meaning red shoe. The Diné wear kélichí to honor and respect kinship, it connects one to p Mother Earth and Father Sky, it is a way to be identified by the holy ones so you are given protection and blessings.

There’s a deeper meaning to Navajo teachings and traditions. It is important to respect those beliefs and be willing to understand them.

My hopes for my people are to continue practicing traditional Navajo teachings. I hope that we continue to be resilient and help each other along the way.

My name is Matt Smiley. I’m a horse trainer here in the Navajo Nation and the owner of Whispering Beat Horsemanship. My story begins at my grandparents’ ranch, Billy Ranch in Manuelito, New Mexico.

Story and photography by Heath Herring

I was raised by a single mother. There was no male figure on my side of the family. My stockmanship, respect for animals and the land, that was instilled by my grandmother. I’ve had my fair share of good and bad experiences out at Billy Ranch. Falling off, having wrecks, learning to ride on my own.

As I grew up, I would reminisce about some of the rough experiences I had with the horses out on the ranch. At some point, my father-in-law gave me some videos about horse training, and that made me realize I wanted to work with horses.
That’s when it clicked, all horses can be taught – young horses, old horses, and even horses with problems.

I got a horse named Geronimo around 2010. He was the first one I ever trained. He was a problem horse. He bucked like crazy. He’d even broken his previous owner’s arm. The training he needed was way more advanced than basic horsemanship. I said to myself, “You can handle this horse.” I started learning any way I could; watching, reading, research. I applied all of it to Geronimo. Thinking about that broken arm, it pushed me to apply the methods I was learning and set a foundation with this horse. I knew horses could be fixed. Especially the bad ones. He gave me a lot of trouble, but I knew he could be taught.

He bucked and fought for the first two weeks, but I started seeing a little change every time I approached him. Every morning his body language was a little different. He wasn’t showing me the whites of his eyes anymore. He wasn’t so tense. He started to have a softer eye on him. I decided it was time to saddle him up and put the first ride on him. It went ok for the first 10 or 15 minutes. He was doing good. Then he blew up. I just held on. When it was over I was still in the saddle. From there on, we had a bond. He knew I didn’t hurt him and I wasn’t going to hurt him. Right then and there I had his trust and we had a connection. He’s one of the most memorable horses I’ve ever started. He wasn’t a looker. Sure wasn’t pretty. He was no unicorn, but he was my horse. I was proud of him.

In the early days, I just started training horses for people. I didn’t know what to charge, how long I should keep a horse or how any of the business side worked. I had to learn as I go. I had to take what I was doing and find structure. I needed a name.

It started with a logo. Things that were meaningful to me. The Zia symbol is New Mexico, my home. The hummingbird represents my cousin who passed on. We were very close. The horses are the four sacred directions and the four sacred colors. We established the Navajo Nation through the horses and our prayers. They were vital to the emergence of our Nation and our people. When the design came together and I looked down at it, I saw a drum. My symbol represents a drum, a round pen and hogan. In our songs, there’s a beat. They say you can train a horse to the beats of our songs. To the rhythm of the drum. There is a rhythm to life and Mother Earth. A rhythm to the heartbeat of the hummingbird. There’s a rhythm to every gate of a horse’s steps. There’s a rhythm between the rider and the horse. And when you find that rhythm, the bond is formed. You and the horse become one. That’s your song. That’s the Whispering Beat.

The first ride is everything. What you plant in that horse’s life, those roots and that foundation will always be strong. When I approach the round pen my spirit is talking to that horse. That’s where it begins.
Ranches and the public bring me horses to train. The problem-horses are the ones that have the biggest impact on my life. They come in with all these issues. I make them honest, reliable, and safe. Seeing that transformation, that’s what pushes me.

Photography by  Maaike Bernstrom

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Back to Basics with Brad Karl and photography by Marisa Anderson

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