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FLAGSTAFF – Today, the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service hosted a listening session in Flagstaff -- to hear from hundreds of Tribal and community leaders, who overwhelmingly supported the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument -- to protect 1.1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park.
In April, the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition -- consisting of leaders from the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes -- called on President Biden to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.
The designation would safeguard traditional use, regional groundwater, wildlife habitat and corridors, and important cultural areas -- including the Red Butte Traditional Cultural Property -- from harmful development and toxic uranium mining -- making permanent a ban on mining that was enacted administratively in 2012.
In response, Sandy Bahr, director for the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, released the following statement:
"Establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument is key to protecting the region’s biological diversity and cultural values, along with its lands, waters, and wildlife. Species such as the majestic California condor and top predators such as mountain lions can be found in the footprint of the monument. As was demonstrated by today’s comments from Tribes, businesses, local community leaders, environmental protection advocates, and many more -- there is strong support for the proposed monument. President Biden has an opportunity to build on historic efforts to safeguard the greater Grand Canyon region -- and to ensure that the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition has a leadership role in the management of these lands going forward -- as they continue their stewardship roles, which have been in place since time immemorial."
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