Light kisses the top cliffs in the Grand Canyon
Jack Pongyesva

Jack Pongyesva

Grand Canyon Manager

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”

— Jonathan Swift

Indigenous and proud, Jack’s love for nature came early as he grew up just a few miles north of Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon, on the Hopi reservation, and throughout northern Arizona. Jack earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, balancing academia with outdoor adventures.

After graduating, Jack interned with the Trust’s Energy and Grand Canyon programs in 2017, where he researched the Colorado Plateau’s coal industry and met regularly with Grand Canyon stakeholders. Jack currently manages the Intertribal Centennial Conversations Group, working to place Native voices of Grand Canyon’s 11 associated tribes at the forefront of education, stewardship, and economic opportunities — increasing Native presence within the Grand Canyon National Park and throughout the region.

Plateau favorites

  • The San Francisco Peaks
  • Munds Creek and Casner Canyon
  • Third Mesa on the Hopi reservation
  • The Animas River in Durango, Colorado
  • The south rim of the Grand Canyon

Hobbies

  • Golfing
  • Mountain biking
  • Hiking
  • Recycling
  • Home improvement projects

Little-known facts

  • I was a toddler model
  • I’m somewhat of a movie buff
  • I live for concerts and live music
  • I have two first names (one in English and one in traditional Hopi)
  • I secretly love driving

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