On Wednesday, April 12, Arizona Sen. Kirsten Cinema, tribal leader, and U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva unveiled a new grand opening next to Grand Canyon National Park, covering approximately 1.1 million acres in northern Arizona. Submitted a proposal to create a Canyon National Monument. Park and Kaibab National Forest.

The proposed monument was created by the Grand Canyon Tribal Union, which includes members of the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Kaibab Paiute, Las Vegas Band of Paiute, Moapa Band of Paiute, Paiute Indian Tribes of Utah, Navajo Nation, and San Juan Southern Paiute it was done. The Yavapai Apache Nation, Zuni Pueblos, and Colorado River Indian tribes all have strong cultural and historical ties to the Grand Canyon and surrounding lands.

When new monuments are established, the tribal federation appoints representatives to governing boards within various federal agencies to develop plans to protect the monuments, including plants, animals, and sacred sites.

“We have a belief system that comes from the earth and animals, so we are very excited to work with federal agencies to preserve and protect areas that will become national monuments,” said Carletta. . Tilousiformer Tribal Council member and Tribal Confederation Coordinator Havasupai told the planet.

Established bargeNwabjoIKukuveni The Grand Canyon National Monument helps protect lands of cultural and natural significance and honors the tribes’ deep ties to the Grand Canyon. bargeNwabjo For the Havasupai tribe, it means ‘the place where the tribe roams’. IKukuveni It means “in our footsteps” in Hopi.

“There are many sacred and special sites throughout the Grand Canyon, including the trails our ancestors walked, burial sites, stone monuments, and different types of plants and minerals used for ceremonial purposes.” Tilousi Said.

Stakeholders have been working for years to protect more of the area around the Grand Canyon, and have decided that designation as a National Monument is the best path forward.

“This proposal arose because several associated tribes have long sought to protect the Grand Canyon area,” Amber Raymond, energy director for the Grand Canyon Trust, told Planet.

“At the end of Congress’ final session, it became clear that protections were needed more than ever as pressure from the mining industry increased. “Sure,” she added.

Both Cinema and Grijalva plan to submit bills to Congress detailing the location and size of the monument, as well as the land management framework. The Biden-Harris administration planned to work with the Coalition of Tribes to establish the Grand Canyon Memorial.

“The Grand Canyon is one of Arizona’s many natural treasures and an important part of our history and heritage,” Cinema said in a statement.

President Joe Biden has the authority to create new national monuments under the Antiquities Act, which allows the president to designate national monuments of historical, cultural, or scientific importance as national land.

“We hope the Biden administration will approve this process before the end of the year.” Tilousi Said. “It’s a lot of work. This is the only announcement.”

Biden previously declared Camp Hale-Continental Divide a national monument in October 2022 to honor the history of the 10th Mountain Division. Also in the West, Bears Ears was designated a national monument by his former President Barack Obama in 2016.

In a recent poll, 86 percent of Arizona voters are in favor of the president protecting existing public lands as national monuments. 85 percent of voters support more voices from Native American tribes on sacred protection and protection. area of ​​cultural significance.

The proposal also includes a permanent ban on new uranium mining, which could help protect the Colorado River basin. The Secretary of the Interior temporarily banned uranium mining in the region in 2012 due to concerns about its harmful effects.Pollution from uranium mining can damage aquatic ecosystems for hundreds of years, affecting fish and wildlife

There are currently about 6,000 active claims, according to Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler.

According to the Grand Canyon Trust, only 1.3% of U.S. uranium reserves and estimated additional resources are located within the Grand Canyon’s mining exclusion zone.

This area contains small amounts of high-grade uranium. Grade refers to the percentage of uranium oxide in the uranium. For example, at the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon, the ore grade of the uranium deposit is about 0.88%. Less than 1% of mined ore becomes yellowcake once crushed. The rest will be toxic and radioactive waste. A spokesperson for Energy Fuels, which owns Pinyon Plain Mine, was not immediately reachable by press time.

“People often confuse high-grade uranium with large amounts of uranium. The Grand Canyon region has higher-grade uranium than the rest of the country, but the world does not,” Raymond said.

A permanent ban on uranium mining is also an important part of responding to climate change, Raymond said.

“The Colorado River is endangered by climate change, and we are looking at pipes that could significantly reduce flow. Uranium mining is a compounding threat to groundwater,” she said. I was.

Uranium mining near the Grand Canyon could harm sacred sites in the future.

“It is very important to me that these areas are protected from uranium mining so that future generations can access them.” Tilousi Said.

Protecting the land around the Grand Canyon impacts the entire Colorado River Basin and the people, animals, and agriculture that depend on it.

“Colorado’s mountains play a major role in the development and maintenance of the Grand Canyon. We are working to protect our connection to Colorado.” Tilousi Said. “Without the mountains, the rivers would have dried up.”