Canyon de Chelly was most likely born in Chinle, Arizona, beneath wide desert skies and ancient red canyon walls. As a very young pup, Canyon found herself on her own in the high desert,  learning from wind, stone, sun, and silence. She wandered the edges of sacred canyons and dusty roads, listening to ravens, following scent trails, and learning which dogs to steer clear from and which humans might leave some scraps. 

Eventually, her wandering brought her to the Holiday Inn at the entrance of Canyon de Chelly, where travelers came and went like the wind. There, she received small offerings of food and gentle words, learning that humans, too, could be part of the landscape.

One day, she noticed a couple and a young girl — their hearts open, their spirits familiar. Canyon gathered all her courage, activated her telepathic gifts, and unleashed her most irresistible desert-dog charm. It worked.

They invited her on a hike with their friends, and Canyon joined without hesitation, walking beside them as though she had always belonged. When the day came to an end Canyon quietly hoped — with every fiber of her being — that this was not another temporary meeting.

She was right.

They opened the door and invited her in.

The drive was long, winding far away from the red earth of her birth. Canyon watched the world change through the window while the little girl picked ticks off of her and threw them out of the window. She felt a growing exhaustion in her bones feeling like for the first time, she could rest. When they finally arrived, three other children greeted her, and in that moment she understood: she had found her family.

She no longer had to fend for herself.

From that day forward, Canyon stepped fully into her life’s calling.

She became guardian of the home, keeper of nervous systems, and devoted companion to every child and adult who needed grounding, comfort, or quiet presence. She learned that healing doesn’t always require words — sometimes it simply asks for warm fur, steady breathing, and a body willing to stay close.

Over time, Canyon revealed herself to be a healer.

She travels back to her homeland through the Navajo Healing Project, walking softly alongside healing clinics and listening deeply to the wisdom of place. With Folks Healing, she attends every gathering — weaving through circles, sitting beside students, resting near those in process, and reminding everyone that safety lives in connection.

Canyon has a remarkable gift for knowing exactly who needs her most. She will gently place herself next to someone who is tender, overwhelmed, or opening something new. Her medicine is subtle and powerful: presence, loyalty and warmth.

She still carries the desert in her bones — the patience of canyon walls, the resilience of dry riverbeds, the quiet intelligence of wide skies. Canyon reminds us daily that healing is often listening, presence and silence.

She is our beloved desert dog, community guardian, ceremonial assistant, and heart-holder.

And we are endlessly grateful she chose us.