A video about a woman’s unexpected realization that people actually live in the Grand Canyon has gone viral on social media.
The TikTok clip was posted by Ariel Pinkney (@heyarielnicole), a millennial based in Atlanta, Georgia. “I work in digital content creation and am also a realtor,” Pinkney told Newsweek. The video has amassed over 65.7 million views since it was shared on January 22, turning a moment of surprise into a viral lesson on the canyon’s long‑standing communities.
Text overlaid on the video reads: “I was today years old when I found out people live in the Grand Canyon.” The clip opens with a sweeping aerial view over a portion of the canyon before zooming in on what appears to be a cluster of homes tucked into the landscape.
The creator captioned the post: “I must have skipped school this day because I did not know this lol [laugh out loud]! Did y’all know people live in the Grand Canyon?”
Pinkney said that the revelatory moment took place during a trip to celebrate her best friend’s birthday. “It was our first time there [the Grand Canyon], and something we had both wanted to check off our bucket lists for a long time. We decided to book an excursion, not really knowing what to expect, just excited to finally experience it in person.”
The footage in the viral clip was taken from one of the main lookout points during their excursion, and Pinkney was “completely shocked.”
“My mouth literally dropped. I kept talking about it for the rest of the day because I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I remember thinking, ‘There’s no way I’m the only person who doesn’t know this.’ That curiosity is what made me post the video, and, within hours, it started taking off with millions of views,” she said.
While the revelation came as news to many viewers, the National Park Service (NPS) says: “People have lived at Grand Canyon for thousands of years. Throughout time, they found shelter, food, and water to survive. Artifacts, objects left behind from past cultures, give scientists clues about how people lived in the past. People still visit, work, and live at Grand Canyon today.”
The NPS adds that Native American culture remains central to the canyon. “Native American culture thrives in and around Grand Canyon today…traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. The tribes enjoy parts of modern culture, and they have kept many of their traditions alive, such as ceremonies, music, food, and crafts. Together with the National Park Service, they help to care for Grand Canyon,” the NPS says.
Several tribal communities continue to live in and around the region, including the Havasupai, who live in the last remaining tribal village inside the canyon. According to the NPS, Navajo, Southern Paiute, and Hualapai communities lie along the edge, or rim, of the canyon, while Hopi, Zuni, and Apache also live nearby. “These people consider Grand Canyon a sacred place,” the NPS notes.
‘This Is News to Me’
Pinkney said that she was “casually recording the view when I noticed what looked like homes below.” She added: “I zoomed in to get a closer look. That’s when it really hit me. I had no idea people lived in the Grand Canyon. I was genuinely shocked and immediately had so many questions; immediately went down a rabbit hole to learn more about how Native Americans still live there.”
Pinkney was certainly not alone in her shock. Several other TikTok users shared their disbelief in the comments section, with many having had no idea the canyon had year‑round residents.
User Cflowermakeup wrote: “All my years alive and I never knew this.”
Another commenter, Alex M, added: “I’m 35 and this is news to me.”
Others used the moment to highlight the presence of Indigenous communities. User @khairotiara commented: “Native Americans are still here, y’all.”
But, for some, the revelation went even further than that. User @p3on13 wrote: “yall talking ab ‘native americans are still here’ you can live in the GRAND CANYON??? and they’ve BEEN LIVING THERE????”
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