Grijalva, Sen. Sinema Proud to Join Tribes in Calling on President Biden to Designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument
April 11, 2023
Washington, D.C. – During a virtual press conference held earlier today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) joined members of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition as they launched an effort to call on President Joe Biden to use his authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi Tribe.
The proposed boundaries of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument include 1,102,501 acres adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park. The National Monument designation would honor the tribes’ deep cultural ties to the Grand Canyon and protect the area by permanently banning uranium mining, while also enhancing the cultural, natural, recreational, and scientific resources of the region. The area is also an important watershed for the Colorado River, which provides water to 40 million Americans.
The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition consists of leadership representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. These tribes maintain important historical, cultural, traditional religious, and spiritual connections to the landscape.
Designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument has received widespread support from tribes, environmental groups, hunters and anglers, and others.
PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt2Fr6wP8LQ&t=1265s
FACT SHEET:
https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2023.04.11%20Fact%20Sheet_BNIK%20Grand%20Canyon%20NM.pdf
MAP:
https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Proposed%20Baaj%20Nwaavjo%20I'tah%20Kukveni%20Grand%20Canyon%20NM%20Map_20230410.pdf
STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT:
https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2023.04.11%20BNIK%20Grand%20Canyon%20NM%20-%20Statments%20of%20Support.pdf
NOTE:
The Q&A portion of the press conference is not available here. It can found on the video link above.
