Eva Tulene Watt

Eva

Eva is a White Mountain Apache, born on Sept. 1913, on the White Mtn Reservation. Her family played an active roll in the development of the Apache Trail and Roosevelt Dam when Eva was a little girl. Her father John Tulene, and oldest brother Eugene helped to build the dam, and helped to widen the narrow Apache Trail. Her other brothers Joe, Jack & Albert carried water to the workers, while her aunt Bessie cooked for them. Her mother helped collect firewood from the banks of Roosevelt Lake.

Eva has a strong conviction to keep her history and stories alive and remembered. So strong in fact, that with the help of her acquaintance, Dr. Keith Basso, the Regents Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, they penned her stories into this book "Don't Let the Sun Step Over You". She began the book when she was 84 years of age, and finished it in August of 2002. When the book was about 5 months from publishing, Eva got very ill with pheumonia and was afraid she would not be able to see her book finished, and more than anything, she wanted to hold a copy in her hands. But she made a complete turn around, and not only made it through to hold a copy in her hands, she still attends our yearly lecture on the History of the Apache Trail at the Superstition Mountain Museum, and has a book signing afterwards. Eva was 90 years old when her book was published in 2004, and her book has already won awards:

Click here to order Eva's book Don't let the Sun Step Over You
  1. 1 of 10 Southwest Books of the Year
  2. Evan Biography Award (1st Native American to ever receive this award)
  3. Bi-Annual Book Award of the Oral History Association

Eva's book is fascinating and captivating and we can't thank her enough for sharing this part of history with us. In honor of Eva and as our way of giving back, Apache Trail Tours has founded an educational funding program for the Apache children on the White Mountain Reservation in her name. Beginning in May of 2006, 5% of all proceeds from our Tenderfoot Trail and Wranglers Trail will go to the "Eva Tulene Watt Spiritual Education Program" at St. Francis Church in Whiteriver, Arizona.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of her book when you check in for your Jeep Tour or you may call our office to order a copy.