In May of this year, my mother and I received a unique opportunity through the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada: to travel to Washington, D.C. and advocate for the good care of all public lands – including and especially our national monuments. When our Bishop offered us the opportunity to speak as indigenous Christian peoples, I was unsure, but up for the task. I read and prepared for my travels. I especially studied the Bears Ears National Monument, and connected with this place that is sacred to many different tribes, and which now may be reduced. I learned that the Bears Ears region contains more than 100,000 sites with archaeological, cultural and spiritual significance. The land supports indigenous traditional livelihoods, spiritual life and medicinal and cultural practices. While indigenous people are taught that all land and water are sacred, Bears Ears is even more significant to the surrounding tribes. This is where they perform their deepest ceremonies. On our own reservation we have a lake that is sacred to our people. I cannot imagine someone coming in to harm or abuse the lake for lack of security or protection, and the effect it would have on my people if we were faced with what the Bears Ears tribes are facing now.Read More on the Story:
Loni Romo: The Case for Bears Ears from a Northern Paiute Perspective (Indian Country Media Network 7/8) Federal Register Notice:
Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996; Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment (May 11, 2017)
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Tribes encounter silence from Secretary Zinke in Bears Ears review (May 2, 2017)
Ute Tribe demands 'voice' as Trump orders review of Bears Ears (April 28, 2017)
Trump singles out Bears Ears as an 'abuse' of government's power(April 26, 2017)
Jacqueline Keeler: New monument marks victory for tribal sites (January 10, 2017)
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Mike Lee: Don't declare monument at sacred Bears Ears in Utah (December 13, 2016)
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