Today, on August 08, President Biden announced the designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument under the Antiquities Act. The boundaries of the National Monument include nearly one million acres of public land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park and would protect the area from uranium extraction. In response, Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement:
“We applaud President Biden for listening to Indigenous tribes and the Tribal Coalition in protecting the ancestral lands of the Grand Canyon and designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The designation had received widespread support from tribes, environmental groups, hunters and anglers, and community leaders. The protection of these lands, which hold a spiritual connection for tribes, also protects its biological, scientific, and watershed significance for future generations.
More than 3,000 native archeological sites have been documented in the region. These lands hold a deep spiritual connection for at least 11 tribes. The area is also part of an important watershed for the Colorado River, which provides water to 40 million Americans. Protecting the watershed would provide much-needed hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and recreation opportunities for nearby communities, especially for Latinos and other communities of color who continue to face the Nature Gap, lacking the benefits that nearby nature brings.
Currently, less than eight percent of national historic landmarks represent the stories of Native Americans, African Americans, American Latinos, Asian Americans, women and other underrepresented groups. The designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument is a step towards placing an importance in community-led efforts and celebrating the diverse cultures and contributions of all Americans.”
On April 11, ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva and Senator Kyrsten Sinema supported the Tribal Coalition to call on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. In May, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland visited the area that the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition had proposed. Recently, President Biden designated the Castner Range National Monument and Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. Adding the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument is continuing his progress toward protecting more historically significant sites