DAVA Cultural Legacy was founded in 2017, however its team members have been working in the southwest and beyond since 1972. Below are samples of their work.
Graffiti Mitigation
Chalking Mitigation – Petroglyph Panels in Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park
Dava and Carl McGahee mitigated the chalking of petroglyph panels in Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park. It is important to remove chalk marks where visitors and photographers have outlined petroglyphs and pictographs as chalk can deteriorate the images and also solicit more chalking. One of the challenges here was working around historic graffiti, which is preserved as it is now part of the historic record. It takes an informed eye to successfully work around historic graffiti and distinguishing recent vandalism. Mitigating present-day damage to petroglyphs and pictographs is vital because if permitted to continue the new would obscure the old, leaving them unreparable and irrecoverable.
Cultural Resource Management
Oral history interviews
Interpretive Services
Exhibits
Events
Day of the Dead ~ Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Day of the Dead is an enduring tradition celebrated worldwide. It originated in Mesoamerica as a blend of Spanish, Aztec, and ancient traditions. Today, the celebration respects and honors ancestors while strengthening connections, creating a more cohesive, and resilient community.
Dava and Gaea collaborate with community members (e.g. Questa, NM, & San Antonio, Tx) to host festivities annually, bringing in bright colors, music, art, and food with strong flavors to lift hearts. Events include educational and creative activities, history exhibits, local authors, dance troupes, altars/offrendas, and feasting.
Programs
Seasonal expeditions
Publications
Why the Moon Paints Her Face Black: Axanixay Maasahoych-oong Tooqara Paruh-xing
A Southern Paiute Sky Story as told by Eleanor Tom
Illustrated by members of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and the surrounding community Transcribed by Chole Valentine Brent
Dava McGahee (Capitol Reef Cultural Resources Program Manager in 2012), collaborated with the Koosharem Band of Paiutes and Utah State University in the creation of this publication. JoAnn Dawson (now DAVA Cultural Legacy team member) completed the graphic design and layout for this publication.
Publications for Guadalupe Mountains National Park – McKittrick Canyon, TexasDava McGahee designed and published interpretive materials while serving as Chief of Interpretation at Guadalupe Mountains NP (June 1976 to April 1978). During her tenure, Dava published several books and guides including But We Didn’t See Any Animals (download here) and the McKittrick Canyon Highlights for Hikers Trailguide. She designed posters and postcards including the McKittrick Canyon postcard (right), a riparian oasis in the surrounding arid landscape.
This Caring for Culture (download here)flyer was developed for the interpretive division of Capitol Reef National Park to educate visitors regarding objects and artifacts they may find throughout the 241,904 acre park. Educating visitors about their finds and practices on federal lands can promote stewardship and understanding, thus preserving the stories that artifacts can tell when left in context. This publication also informs visitors about pictographs, petroglyphs and historic graffiti and why touching, chalking or writing on rock images and any rock surfaces on federal lands is damaging and unlawful. The flyer, written by Dava Davy McGahee with graphic design by Joanne Dawson, features archaeologists, Dava and Gaea Davy McGahee removing graffiti from Oak Creek Canyon in Capitol Reef.