Based on its tragic history and deep spiritual significance for the Diné (Navajo) people, the haunting description of Canyon de Chelly centers on ethereal voices and ancestral energies, especially in the northern Canyon del Muerto. The canyon is considered a living, sacred place, but also one marked by violent conflict, loss, and ancient spirits. In 1805, Spanish soldiers trapped and killed over 100 Navajo men, women, and children in a rock shelter, now called Massacre Cave. Visitors have reported hearing the disembodied wails, cries, and sounds of distress from the women and children who were slain there almost two centuries ago. The U.S. military's campaign against the Navajo, led by Kit Carson in 1864, involved burning crops and killing livestock within the canyon. This forced the Navajo to surrender and endure "The Long Walk," a brutal 300-mile march that killed hundreds. The canyon walls and air are said to hold the echoes of this dark history. Some visitors report hearing the sounds of warfare and distress throughout the canyon. For some Navajo, particularly those descended from families who underwent the Long Walk, the canyon and its ancient sites are considered tainted ground. Entering sacred spaces is done with great caution to avoid disturbing the ancestral energies, which are not all benign. The Diné word for the canyon is Tséyi’, or "the place within the rock". It is considered a living entity filled with spiritual energy and the voices of ancestors. Elders and guides describe the canyon as being "alive with voices in the wind and of the ancestors," which bring the past into the present. When a song or story is told in the canyon, the echo bouncing off the walls can feel like the "Holy Ones are singing you the story," reinforcing the spiritual nature of the place. Spider Rock, an 800-foot-tall sandstone spire, is a central feature of Navajo creation stories and is believed to be the home of Na'ashjéii Asdzáá (Spider Woman). She is a powerful and complex figure who gave the Navajo the gift of weaving but is also said to have a darker side. According to legend, she captures and eats disobedient children, with some believing you can see the sun-bleached bones of her victims on top of Spider Rock.