December 28, 2016
For immediate release
ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Wildlife Federation applauds President Obama’s designation of the Bears Ears area in southeastern Utah and Gold Butte in Nevada as national monuments. This designation comes after decades of hard work for each area by tribal leaders, elected officials, business owners, archaeologists, conservationists, veterans, and others, and will protect Native American cultural heritage and allow for continued traditional land uses and recreational activities.
Bears Ears is an important ancestral site to many Native American tribes. This area also includes piñon-juniper forests, stunning canyons, beautiful sandstone formations, and wildlife. Monument designation will help prevent cultural artifacts from being stolen, and ensure continued traditional land uses such as hunting, grazing, and gathering of firewood, pinon nuts, and plants.
Gold Butte – which contains Nevada’s portion of the Grand Canyon – is a sacred area to the Moapa Band of Paiute people and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and contains thousands of petroglyphs and shelters dating back over 12,000. In addition to this important cultural value, the area is also prime habitat for bighorn sheep and features stunning red sandstone and rock spires.
Monument designation for these areas will help prevent cultural artifacts from being stolen, protect shared Native heritage, and ensure continued traditional land uses such as hunting, grazing, and gathering of firewood, pinon nuts, and plants.
“Designation of these national monuments will protect world class archaeology and incredible natural areas that so many people deeply value,” said Executive Director Garrett Vene Klasen. “We applaud President Obama’s action in response to the request from these diverse coalition partners. As national monuments, the cultural and outdoor heritage present at Bears Ears and Gold Butte will be better protected for generations to come. NMWF is excited that all Americans will continue to be able to enjoy and recreate on their public lands.”
New Mexicans applaud these additions to our legacy of public lands protection for our neighbors in the southwest and thank President Obama for these new national monuments.
