Today on Travel Talk we are travelling to Southeast Utah to meet Louis Williams the owner of Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures
Louis is a member of the Diné Nation and was raised in the town of Kayenta, Arizona near Monument Valley. Currently, he lives in Blanding, Utah with his wife Tanya and son, Kaleb. Louis loves nature and that love was inherited from his family roots. Louis learned the importance of land preservation and resource conservation through his heritage teachings and upbringing on the Dine reservation. This love for nature was enhanced during his studies at the University of New Mexico where he studied Earth Science which included various subjects focused on geology. He began sharing the beauty of the land and cultures when he started guiding full-time on the San Juan River. He guided educational tours for Wild Rivers Expeditions starting in 2012 and eventually established his own company called Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures. Louis and his native crew of guides do their best to educate visitors about the importance of protecting this landscape’s resources, inhabitants, native vegetation and cultural history.
Louis has a deep passion for protecting the longevity of Mother Earth and the local cultures. He is involved with BEP through his training as a Visit With Respect Ambassador and archaeological site steward. Louis is often guiding tours in the Bear’s Ears region where he gets a chance to share knowledge about the archaeology, wildlife, geology, water sources, local history and existing cultures of the region.
Ancient Wayves, based near the Four Corners region, provides guided hiking tours throughout the Northern Navajo Nation and the Bears Ears region. These tours are available to the local, domestic, and international community. Since the launch of Ancient Wayves in February 2020, the demand for his unique Native American tours has been high despite opening as the COVID-19 pandemic closed down national and tribal parks, halting international travel. The grit and hustle of Louis are apparent as he tirelessly works with Meghan McFall to obtain training. With sheer determination, he believes in his mission to preserve the cultures and share the environmental and geological history of the region.