Trump vs. Bears Ears:
Outraged Native Groups Respond
“Offensive.” “Illegal.” “Racist.” Those are just a few of the words used by Native American leaders and groups this week in response to President Trump’s plan to remove protections from 85 percent of the 1.35 million-acre Bears Ears National Monument. Tribes have spent decades trying to protect the culturally and historically significant Utah landmark.
The long-rumored details of President Trump’s action —
fulfilling vague promises he made back in May — were officially announced today
at a heavily protested public event in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“We got it done,” said the president during the event.
“We got it done,” said the president during the event.
At the close of his speech, Trump signed two presidential
proclamations to shrink both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument by a total of more than 2 million acres and in the process carve up
what remains into several smaller monuments.
Native leaders wasted no time condemning Trump’s plan in the
days leading up to its formal announcement.
During one of many public protests held
in Salt Lake City this past weekend, Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel
Branch said Trump does not have the authority to remove or shrink national
monuments, a position on which Constitutional scholars agree.
Natalie Landreth, senior staff attorney with the Native American
Rights Fund, also took that position in a prepared statement last
week, calling Trump’s action “completely illegal.”
She added: “This is an issue of tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination. The five tribes that advocated tirelessly to create this monument did so to protect their ancient and modern cultural and spiritual importance. The fact that it is being revoked without any consultation, or even concern, for the tribes is offensive.”
She added: “This is an issue of tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination. The five tribes that advocated tirelessly to create this monument did so to protect their ancient and modern cultural and spiritual importance. The fact that it is being revoked without any consultation, or even concern, for the tribes is offensive.”
Landreth also spoke to the cultural threats that led to the
establishment of Bears Ears. “The monument was created in large part to help
stem the tide of widespread looting and grave robbing, which was the original
purpose of the Antiquities Act, and removal of that protection leaves more than
60,000 known sites in danger. It’s disgraceful.”
And it’s not just about history; it’s also about the cultural
and political reality of today. “Bears Ears isn’t just about a few artifacts in
isolated locations,” Shaun Chapoose, a member of the Ute Indian Tribal Business
Committee, said in an earlier statement issued by the Rights
Fund.
“Our cultures are still here and still thriving. The Bears Ears region is a cultural landscape — a place to nurture our families in our traditions. The monument came about through government-to-government negotiations with the previous administration, state and local officials. The president’s proposed unilateral action pleases a few powerful Utah politicians. It’s a sad state of affairs, but we are prepared to fight for our rights, and to protect Bears Ears.”
“Our cultures are still here and still thriving. The Bears Ears region is a cultural landscape — a place to nurture our families in our traditions. The monument came about through government-to-government negotiations with the previous administration, state and local officials. The president’s proposed unilateral action pleases a few powerful Utah politicians. It’s a sad state of affairs, but we are prepared to fight for our rights, and to protect Bears Ears.”
Many critics spoke to how Trump’s plan attempts to erase
the years of effort put into seeking
protection for Bears Ears.
“The establishment of the Bears Ears National Monument was a historic advancement for all five Native Nations (Navajo, Hopi, Ute, Ute Mountain, Zuni) who advocated for the monument,” Russell Begaye, president of the Navajo Nation, said in the Rights Fund prepared statement.
“At the very least, President Trump should have consulted with the original local governments of the Bears Ears region: our five Indian nations. Instead, our many requests for consultation were ignored. An action to diminish the Bears Ears National Monument in any way will be an action against the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people who have worked so tirelessly to protect these lands.”
“The establishment of the Bears Ears National Monument was a historic advancement for all five Native Nations (Navajo, Hopi, Ute, Ute Mountain, Zuni) who advocated for the monument,” Russell Begaye, president of the Navajo Nation, said in the Rights Fund prepared statement.
“At the very least, President Trump should have consulted with the original local governments of the Bears Ears region: our five Indian nations. Instead, our many requests for consultation were ignored. An action to diminish the Bears Ears National Monument in any way will be an action against the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people who have worked so tirelessly to protect these lands.”
American Indian groups have been gearing up for a fight ever
since the president first promised to remove protections for the monument,
which was established by President Obama.
“What the politicians are doing is violating what’s sacred to us,” Alfred Lomahquahu Jr., vice chairman of the Hopi Tribal Council, told The Nation last week, comparing it to removing protections for Arlington National Cemetery. “Our holy, sacred ground happens to be the big landscape out here. But people don’t understand that. Not honoring Bears Ears is against our religion. And it’s racist.”
“What the politicians are doing is violating what’s sacred to us,” Alfred Lomahquahu Jr., vice chairman of the Hopi Tribal Council, told The Nation last week, comparing it to removing protections for Arlington National Cemetery. “Our holy, sacred ground happens to be the big landscape out here. But people don’t understand that. Not honoring Bears Ears is against our religion. And it’s racist.”
Ironically, Trump said during his speech that removing
protections from Bears Ears protects religion. “We will ensure the right of the
people to live according to the faith in their hearts, which is why we will
always protect your religious liberty,” he said.
Immediately following the end of Trump’s speech, the Navajo
Nation announced plans to sue to protect Bears Ears National Monument.
“This is a sad day for indigenous people and for America,” Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez said in a press release. “However, we are resilient and refuse to allow President Trump’s unlawful decision to discourage us. We will continue to fight in honor of our ancestral warriors who fought for our way of life, for our culture and for our land too.”
“This is a sad day for indigenous people and for America,” Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez said in a press release. “However, we are resilient and refuse to allow President Trump’s unlawful decision to discourage us. We will continue to fight in honor of our ancestral warriors who fought for our way of life, for our culture and for our land too.”
John R.
Platt is the editor of The Revelator. An
award-winning environmental journalist, his work has appeared in Scientific
American, Audubon, Motherboard, and numerous other magazines and publications.
His “Extinction Countdown” column has run continuously since 2004 and has
covered news and science related to more than 1,000 endangered species. John
lives on the outskirts of Portland, Ore., where he finds himself surrounded by
animals and cartoonists. http://twitter.com/johnrplatthttp://johnrplatt.com