Protect the Grand Canyon Today!

On behalf of the Arizona Faith Network, we are elated by President Biden's declaration of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon as a national monument. This momentous proclamation, eagerly awaited, is a testament to the unwavering dedication of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, Representative Grijalva, countless Arizona advocates, and nonprofit organizations. As representatives of diverse faith traditions, we firmly believe safeguarding sacred land is fundamental to all spiritual and religious principles.

We acknowledge the profound significance of this land to the Hopi, Havasupai, and other Tribal communities who hold it sacred. By lending our wholehearted support to their voices, guidance, and unwavering endeavors, we stand alongside them in their tireless quest to protect this remarkable sanctuary from the perils of destructive mining and exploitation. Through this act of preservation, we pay homage to the profound cultural legacy, ancestral bonds, and spiritual essence that resonate deeply within these consecrated grounds. 

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Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument

For decades, Tribes have been seeking permanent protection of federal public lands adjoining Grand Canyon National Park, which comprise of an integral part of the Colorado River watershed and Grand Canyon ecosystem. This effort is now being led by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition (Tribal Coalition) who hold deep cultural connections to the region. The proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument would include 1,102,501 acres of federal public land adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park. The national monument designation would honor the tribes’ deep cultural ties to the Grand Canyon and protect the cultural, natural, recreational, and scientific resources of the region. 

  • Native American, Archaeological, and Historical Values – At least 12 Tribes and Nations hold cultural connections to the Grand Canyon region. Tribal nations have been the original stewards of the Grand Canyon region since time immemorial and the region holds significant cultural and spiritual narratives. Thousands of archaeological sites have been documented in the region ranging from settlements and habitations to temporary camps, granaries, and caches. Cultural sites and petroglyphs are thousands of years old.  

  • The Grand Canyon Supports Rural Economies in Northern Arizona and the Nation’s Outdoor Recreation Economy – Protecting special places like Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument encourages tourism, increases local business and Tribal revenue, and creates a lasting and desirable place for people to live, work, and recreate. 

  • Grand Canyon National Park, initially protected as a National Monument, is one of the country’s most visited National Parks and serves as a major economic driver for Coconino County and other local communities. In 2021 the Park welcomed 4.5 million visitors and funneled $95 million into gateway economies.  

  • The Grand Canyon region provides opportunities for outdoor experiences and traditional uses of all types from hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking to Tribal uses like plant and firewood gathering. A national monument would maintain these existing uses while protecting the region’s clean air, land, and water.

  • The Grand Canyon region is a significant watershed for the Colorado River – which provides water to over 40 million Americans. Climate change and drought have caused these water resources to reach perilously low levels only increasing the need to ensure the watershed is protected from any future threats.  

  • Tribes Support Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument – The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, a coalition of at least 12 Native American Tribes and Nations with strong cultural connections to the lands in the proposed monument called upon President Biden to permanently protect their homelands near the canyon by designating a new national monument on April 11, 2023.  

  • Two out of three Arizonians, or 67%, across the political spectrum support a permanent ban on uranium mining around the Grand Canyon. Per Colorado College’s 2023 Conservation in the West poll, 62% of Arizonians support enacting legislation that would make permanent the current ban on new uranium and other mining on public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon. Additionally, 86% support presidents continuing to use their ability to protect existing public lands as national monuments.  

Click/tap on the image below for a Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument fact sheet: