fbpx
 

In a letter on Tuesday, May 30, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs urged President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate the tribally proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. 

Arizona is known as “The Grand Canyon State,” and the use of the Antiquities Act — established in 1906 to preserve archeological and historical sites on public lands — would safeguard the canyon’s watershed, continue to support strong economic growth in communities across the state, and preserve important cultural land.

Hobbes support comes after Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) visited the Grand Canyon on May 20 to meet with the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition about the proposed monument.

The Grand Canyon region is a significant contributor to the state's economy. According to a recent National Parks Service report, in 2021 4.5 million people visited the National Park and spent an estimated $710 million in park gateway regions alone, which has supported over 9,300 jobs. 

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. 
 

“The Grand Canyon region is known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, but known for much more in the state of Arizona,”  Hobbs said in her statement. “It’s a culturally sacred place, stewarded by Indigenous Peoples for centuries. Today, I add my voice to those asking President Biden to use the Antiquities Act authority to safeguard this irreplaceable landscape.”

As well, Hobbs wrote that the Arizona Game and Fish Department will retain its existing authority related to the management, control, and regulation of fish and wildlife in the area “so that this authority is clearly delineated prior to the years-long formation of a monument management plan."

More Stories Like This

Over 60 Tribes Support Michigan Attorney General's Lawsuit to Close Enbridge's Line 5
Three California Tribal Nations Declare First U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area
“No Green Colonialism: Land Back NOW!” Mural in NYC's Times Square Demands Real Solutions
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Rejects DAPL Environmental Impact Statement
A Transgenic American Chestnut Tree is Coming. Who Is It For?

Native News is free to read.

We hope you enjoyed the story you've just read. For the past dozen years, we’ve covered the most important news stories that are usually overlooked by other media. From the protests at Standing Rock and the rise of the American Indian Movement (AIM), to the ongoing epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP) and the past-due reckoning related to assimilation, cultural genocide and Indian Boarding Schools.

Our news is free for everyone to read, but it is not free to produce. That’s why we’re asking you to make a donation to help support our efforts. Any contribution — big or small — helps.  Most readers donate between $10 and $25 to help us cover the costs of salaries, travel and maintaining our digital platforms. If you’re in a position to do so, we ask you to consider making a recurring donation of $12 per month to join the Founder's Circle. All donations help us remain a force for change in Indian Country and tell the stories that are so often ignored, erased or overlooked.

Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you. 

About The Author
Native News Online Staff
Author: Native News Online StaffEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at [email protected].