The City of Flagstaff is proud of the efforts it has made to include more and more diverse voices in all aspects of decision-making. Likewise, great efforts have been made to recognize and honor our cities and the surrounding lands as ancestral homes for at least a dozen indigenous peoples. We share natural resources and are expected to be good stewards of the land, air and water we need to survive.

Over the years, the Confederation of Native American Tribes has led efforts to further protect the culturally, historically and environmentally significant lands around the Grand Canyon. These are lands that visitors to northern Arizona, and those of us who are lucky enough to live here, hold dear for many reasons.

On April 11, the coalition called on President Joe Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate and protect these lands as the Baj Nwabjo Ita Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. .

Baaj nwaavjo means ‘the place where the tribe roams’ to the Havasupai people. Ita Kukuveni means “in our footsteps” to the Hopi people. These tribes are part of a 12-tribe coalition driving this effort.

The monument protects over 1.1 million acres of federal land near Grand Canyon National Park, not including state or private land. Designation as a monument will allow existing uses such as hunting and grazing to continue, and will make the current 20-year moratorium on mining permanent.

Protecting these lands as national monuments protects the valuable water resources that flow into the Colorado River and wildlife habitat for many species of birds and mammals. It would also secure the economic opportunities upon which cities and towns throughout northern Arizona depend.

The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County have both publicly expressed their support for this monument designation and our hope is that this coalition will be successful in protecting these lands that we all enjoy forever. to make it possible. FBNMore

Becky Daggett, FBN

Becky Daggett is the mayor of Flagstaff.