President Joe Biden this week designated nearly 1 million acres as a new national monument near Grand Canyon National Park.
The national monument will be called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam” in the native Havasupai language, and “I’tah Kukveni” means “our ancestral footprints” in the Hopi tribal language.
According to a report from NPR:
The move protects lands that are sacred to indigenous peoples and permanently bans new uranium mining claims in the area. […]
The president gave remarks at the Historic Red Butte Airfield in Arizona before signing the proclamation and visiting the Grand Canyon.
“Our nation’s history is etched in our people and in our lands,” Biden said. “Today’s action is going to protect and preserve that history, along with these high plateaus and deep canyons.”
It does not affect existing mining claims and upholds existing property rights.
The Arizona Daily Sun, based in nearby Flagstaff, had extensive coverage of the event:
Clark Tenakhongva, former vice-chair of the Hopi Tribe, told the Arizona Daily Sun that the proclamation was an act to right past history and one that had been long fought for.
“It’s long overdue. It’s finally a feeling of hope from the horizon from the east, meaning the White House, that this administration is finally looking at tribal issues rather than just talking about it,” Tenakhongva said.
Havasupai councilmember Stewart Chavez also spoke to the long journey that led to Tuesday’s proclamation, saying the last step happened so fast that it was “almost like whiplash.”
“There are generations before me that are gone that are definitely rejoiceful in the spirit world at this point,” Chavez said. “I think the message that I have is ‘thank you, from the bottom of my heart.’ For someone to have finally acknowledge Indigenous tribes. And it took this long, but for someone to actually respond, understand the request that we’ve had for years, the importance of preserving not only our history, but also our culture and the land for future generations.”
The full proclamation from the White House can be read here. A map of the new monument can be found here.
According to Courthouse News Service, about 15 Arizona Republican lawmakers gathered in the Route 66 town of Kingman to voice opposition to Biden’s move.
“Our land is sacred to all the residents that live and thrive in Arizona,” Lake Havasu City Councilmember Nancy Campbell told the special joint committee. “We the people do not want the federal government interfering with our land.” […]
Members of the committee characterized Biden’s move not as one of environmental preservation but instead as an abuse of power, continuing what state Representative Gail Griffin of Tucson called “the war on the West.” […]
U.S. Representative Paul Gosar, a Republican from Arizona’s ninth congressional district, opposed the proposal and complained of “devastating effects” on Mohave County, most notably loss of economic opportunity for rural towns he said will become further isolated by the creation of the monument.
The complaints probably will be heard by many deaf ears. Conservation of the indisputably iconic Grand Canyon and the surrounding area is broadly popular with the U.S. public.
Though it lies 60 miles from the Mother Road, the Grand Canyon probably is the most popular side trip for Route 66 travelers. It’s hard to imagine the existence of the Route 66 town of Williams, Arizona, without it.
(Image of Grand Canyon National Park by Hannes Flo via Flickr)
Hmm. I’ll try not to take the comment about Williams, AZ personally. A relative of mine is who the town is named after.