LCV and Chispa AZ Praise Tribal-Led Proposal to Protect the Grand Canyon Watershed

Contact: Kyra Madunich-Arevalo, kmadunich@lcv.org, 909-767-9743

Echo Calls for Biden Administration to Designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument

Washington, D.C. — The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa Arizona fully support the Tribal-led proposal to permanently protect more than one million acres around Grand Canyon National Park as the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument, releasing the following statements:

“The Havasupai, Hualapai, Hopi, Kaibab Paiute, Las Vegas Band of Paiute, Moapa Band of Paiute, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute, Yavapai Apache, Zuni, Colorado River Indian Tribes, and Navajo Nation people have been the original stewards of the Grand Canyon region since time immemorial,” said America Fitzpatrick, LCV’s Conservation Program Director. We are honored to support their vision for permanent protection, which will help preserve these sacred lands while protecting drinking water in the state and boosting the outdoor recreation economy. We proudly join the local coalition of Tribes and advocates in calling on President Biden to designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.”

“The Grand Canyon is tied to the place of origin of the Navajo, Hopi, Paiute and Zuni peoples and holds sacred significance for 11 tribes,” said DJ Portugal, Chispa Arizona’s Federal Organizer. “Like many public lands, the Grand Canyon is a beautiful place full of wonder, sacredness and inspiration but also a reminder of displacement, denial of heritage rights and political oppression for Indigenous peoples. Chispa Arizona holds this balance in mind as our Latinx community joins the local coalition of Tribes in calling on President Biden to designate a national monument and safeguard the landscape in protection of the Grand Canyon, water and Indigenous access to lands they’ve stewarded since time immemorial.”

###