Coal Mine Canyon & Mormon Settlements

Coal Mine Canyon is located about 15 miles east of Tuba City, Arizona and is rarely seen by tourists on the Hopi Indian Reservation.

The Hopi Indians tell an interesting story related to the Mormon wagon trains coming west. It is said when Chief Tuuva of the Hopi met the first groups of these religious evacuees in 1858, he claimed the grandfathers had long awaited the return of their "Moon-Eyed" white brothers. Tuuva assisted the immigrants to find their way back to sacred grounds of Leehi & Nephi (immigrants from Israel to North America around 400 B.C.)

The Hopi assisted the Mormons, who at the time were malnourished and struggling from their journey. The Indians suggested boiling a type of sagebrush found in the area called ephedra viridisto create a tea to give them the energy to finish their trip to the lands now known as Utah. The plant contains ephedrine... known to increase heart rates and expand bronchial passages... Results of this tea would have compared to a great cup of Starbucks coffee.

 to create a tea to give them the energy to finish their trip to the lands now known as Utah. The plant contains ephedrine... known to increase heart rates and expand bronchial passages... Results of this tea would have compared to a great cup of Starbucks coffee.