WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva, U.S. Senator from Arizona Kyrsten Sinema, and leaders of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition called on President Biden to use his powers under the Antiquities Act to safeguard the tribal nations’ Grand Canyon homeland by designating it as a new national monument. The proposed designation would protect invaluable land, marking a vital step to conserving 30 percent of natural places in the United States by 2030.

The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument would protect the vital area around the Grand Canyon sacred to Native American communities, including the Havasupai and Hopi tribes, and preserve an invaluable cultural site and environmental habitat for future generations. A wide coalition of indigenous leaders, local communities, and local elected officials support the site’s designation.

It’s essential for Tribal lands and sacred sites to be preserved and protected from exploitation from extractive industry. We welcome Grijalva’s calls to designate The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument in order to safeguard these irreplaceable sites and preserve their cultural and environmental significance for future generations. This designation would be a tangible step toward fulfilling the President’s campaign promise of conserving 30 percent of the country’s land and waters by 2030.”

Jordan Schreiber, Director of Energy and Environment at Accountable.US.
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