I-Team: Las Vegas Paiutes React to Red Rock Graffiti

Investigative Reporter Jonathan Humbert and Photojournalist Alex Brauer

I-Team: Las Vegas Paiutes React to Red Rock Graffiti

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RED ROCK CANYON, Nev.  - The contrast is striking - ancient artwork depicting deep connections of hunting and family destroyed by modern graffiti of the names "Peewee" and "Chronic".

Tribal leaders know science isn't on their side. Removing the graffiti from the petroglyphs at Red Rock Canyon could potentially damage the site forever.

Paiute vice chairperson Tonia Means said seeing the graffiti has been "gut-wrenching". It's another in a long line of disrespectful acts on a people sometimes marginalized in the community. Means says the stories of family survival that have been in place for years were destroyed in seconds. Now, the public sees that history hidden beneath criminal self expression.

"With those being lost, and those stories that are not being able to be told, then everybody loses," Means said.

Crews face the task of creating a delicate clean-up method if one can be found. Means sees at least one positive outcome. She says other cultures and people in the valley now know about these sites and the ancient Paiutes. If everyone contributes and fights this sort of vandalism, Means hopes it will prevent it from happening again.

Police arrested a juvenile suspect in this case. If convicted, he faces a $100,000 fine and up to five years in jail.

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