by Mattea Goetz
Red Butte is a sacred mountain to many Tribes in the region and is located within our newest national monument, the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. From the top of the Butte, we could see Pinyon Plain Mine and its close proximity to Grand Canyon. Members of the Havasupai Tribe joined the hike and shared their relationship to the landscape and perspectives on Pinyon Plain Mine, a uranium mine located within the Monument, grandfathered in due to outdated laws. Hydrologist Laura Crossey and geologist Karl Karlstrom of the University of New Mexico also hiked up Red Butte. Laura and Karl have been studying the geology and hydrology of this region for decades and shared with us their concerns about the dangers of the mine regarding the aquifer it pierces.
This trip was both a joyful and somber experience. Spending time with each other, connecting to the land, sharing our stories, knowledge, and concerns about a place we all hold deeply within our hearts was life-giving. Simultaneously, seeing the mine from above, knowing how imminent the threat is to this region as mining has officially begun, only reengaged our passions and commitment to shutting down and cleaning up the mine.
We look forward to spending more time together at Red Butte and hope you can join us for our next trip
by Mattea Goetz, Grand Canyon Program Manager