Bears Ears National Monument posted by @protectbearsears} Hoon’Naqvut (Hopi), Shash Jaa’ (Navajo), Kwiyagatu Nukavachi (Ute), Ansh An Lashokdiwe (Zuni). Bears Ears is a really important site for many of the Utah area Native Nations. The monument was the result of years of advocacy by a coalition of tribes and, while of course it is troubling that these tribes had to turn to the settler-state in order to protect their cultural and natural resources, it was still a huge victory of this coalition. The Nations serve as advisors and are able to continue to use the resources of the monument.
The Monument has been at the center of a public land battle. It was dramatically reduced by President Trump by 80% to allow for energy extraction and although restored by President Biden, its designation remains precarious.
The United States has done some amazing preservation work through its parks, monuments, and wilderness areas, but this is still a colonial nation and repatriating stolen land to Native people is not a priority. This whole situation just shows how precarious it is to rely on public lands to protect Tribal resources. It begs the questions - Are American “public lands” ever a good solution for the needs of Indigenous nations? And if not, what are the alternatives?