The monument would protect a little more than 1.1 million acres of federal land near Grand Canyon National Park and wouldn’t include any state or private lands.
The City of Flagstaff is proud of the work we’ve done to include more and diverse voices in all aspects of decision-making. Likewise, much effort has been made to acknowledge and honor that our city and surrounding lands are ancestral homelands for at least a dozen Indigenous nations. We share natural resources and are all called to be good stewards of the land, air and water we need to survive.
For many years, a coalition of Native American tribes has been leading an effort to provide additional protections to lands of cultural, historic and environmental significance around the Grand Canyon. These are lands that visitors to Northern Arizona – as well as those of us fortunate enough to reside here – treasure for many reasons.
On April 11, this coalition called on President Joe Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to protect these lands by designating them Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.
Baaj nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe. I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi Tribe. These tribes are part of the 12-tribe coalition driving this effort.
The monument would protect a little more than 1.1 million acres of federal land near Grand Canyon National Park and wouldn’t include any state or private lands. The designation as a monument would continue to allow existing uses such as hunting and grazing and would make permanent the current 20-year moratorium on mining.
Protecting these lands as a national monument would protect precious water resources that flow into the Colorado River and wildlife habitat for many species of birds and mammals. It would also ensure economic opportunities that cities and towns throughout Northern Arizona rely upon.
The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County have both publicly stated support for the monument designation, our hope is that this coalition is successful in protecting these lands for us all to enjoy in perpetuity. FBN
By Becky Daggett, FBN
Becky Daggett is the mayor of Flagstaff.