Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 52 minutes ago
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest
Episode: “Ndee Trails,” written and read by John R. Welch
In this short, author-read audio story, Vice President, Preservation & Collaboration, John R. Welch reflects on decades of searching for, documenting, and learning from the subtle trail networks of the Ndee (Western Apache). High in the rugged uplands above the Salt River, these nearly invisible paths reveal how people moved, gathered, lived lightly on the land, and cared for places over generations. Through John’s field experiences and personal insights, listeners gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous geography, memory, and presence.
This piece is part of Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest, a new audio series featuring personal reflections and first-hand perspectives on land, memory, stewardship, and the deep histories held in landscapes across the Southwest.
Listen to the full story and read the original blog:
“Ndee Trails” by John R. Welch
archaeologysouthwest.org/2025/11/25/ndee-trails
About this series
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest shares short, author-read pieces that explore how people connect with place — through archaeology, lived experience, Indigenous knowledge, science, stewardship, and memory. Each episode offers a glimpse into the many ways we understand and care for the lands of the Southwest.
Support Preservation Work
This audio story accompanies our Year-End Campaign, which focuses on the many ways trails connect people, histories, and landscapes.
If this story resonates with you, consider supporting our work:
archaeologysouthwest.org/donate
Your contribution helps protect important places and uplift the stories they hold.
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest
Episode: “Ndee Trails,” written and read by John R. Welch
In this short, author-read audio story, Vice President, Preservation & Collaboration, John R. Welch reflects on decades of searching for, documenting, and learning from the subtle trail networks of the Ndee (Western Apache). High in the rugged uplands above the Salt River, these nearly invisible paths reveal how people moved, gathered, lived lightly on the land, and cared for places over generations. Through John’s field experiences and personal insights, listeners gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous geography, memory, and presence.
This piece is part of Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest, a new audio series featuring personal reflections and first-hand perspectives on land, memory, stewardship, and the deep histories held in landscapes across the Southwest.
Listen to the full story and read the original blog:
“Ndee Trails” by John R. Welch
archaeologysouthwest.org/2025/11/25/ndee-trails
About this series
Preservation Stories with Archaeology Southwest shares short, author-read pieces that explore how people connect with place — through archaeology, lived experience, Indigenous knowledge, science, stewardship, and memory. Each episode offers a glimpse into the many ways we understand and care for the lands of the Southwest.
Support Preservation Work
This audio story accompanies our Year-End Campaign, which focuses on the many ways trails connect people, histories, and landscapes.
If this story resonates with you, consider supporting our work:
archaeologysouthwest.org/donate
Your contribution helps protect important places and uplift the stories they hold.
