For the last three years, several conservation groups have engaged in legislative discussions led by Congressmen Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz about protecting remarkable public lands in southeastern Utah. Although groups were in close contact, our organizations had presented a number of different proposals.
Now Friends of Cedar Mesa, Utah Diné Bikéyah, Conservation Lands Foundation, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Grand Canyon Trust and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have unified to form what we’re calling the Bears Ears Coalition. These groups are working together to support and elevate the voices of Native American people who consider this region sacred. We strongly believe tribes and Pueblos can and should have a greater roll in public lands protection and management. We’ve launched a new website for the Bears Ears Coalition where you can learn all about the proposal.
Named after twin buttes that form a landmark seen from much of southeastern Utah, the proposed Bears Ears conservation area seeks to protect 1.9-million acres of pristine public lands including Cedar Mesa, more than 100,000 archaeological sites, and a network of mesas and canyons sacred to many Native American Tribes and Pueblos, as well as descendants of early Mormon pioneers.
The cultural landscape proposed for protection spans from the San Juan River and Navajo Nation in the south, the Colorado River to the west, Canyonlands National Park to the
Cottonwood Wash is one of the places proposed for protection within Bears Ears. north and the White Mesa Ute Reservation to the east (click for map).
Tucked within Bears Ears is what FCM has dubbed the Cedar Mesa area, whose iconic canyons and mesa tops contain an estimated 56,000 archaeological sites. Cedar Mesa is also home to historical resources like the Hole-in-the-Rock trail forged by Mormon settlers. The historic, cultural and natural resources of Cedar Mesa and the greater Bears Ears landscape all require immediate protection from mounting threats of development and increasing visitation.
In an unprecedented display of solidarity, 24 Tribes and Pueblos have expressed support for protecting lands within the Bears Ears cultural landscape. This region is sacred to many Native American tribes, including the Navajo, Hopi, Ute, Pueblo, Hualapai, and Apache peoples. The lands within Bears Ears are used to this day by Native American people for hunting, wood gathering, herb collection and traditional ceremony.
Recently, the Coalition hosted an inter-tribal gathering in Bluff, Utah for representatives from seven different Tribes and Pueblos to discuss the Bears Ears proposal. Navajo people extended a warm “welcome home” message to the Hopi, Zuni, Cochiti, Hualapai and Ute Mountain Utes who met to discuss the history and significance of the cultural landscape. Many of the participants were fortunate enough to take a scenic overflight of the area with Eco Flight, which was captured on video. You can read more about the “welcome home” gathering here.
With dozens of scenic red rock canyons, alpine peaks, forested plateaus and plentiful opportunities for solitude, the greater Bears Ears cultural landscape is truly a place worth protecting for future generations. As the Bears Ears proposal continues to build support, we encourage you to learn more and take action by visiting Bears Ears Coalition.