Havasupai Tribe: “Our protest song — no uranium mining!” #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred #Arizona pic.twitter.com/oxC0f5XLYf
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

Environment | National | Politics | Trust

Bills to protect ancestral tribal lands from development set to advance

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

The House Committee on Natural Resources is due to advance legislation to protect tribal ancestral lands from development.

The committee is meeting for a markup session on Wednesday morning to consider three bills. Two of them have gained broad support in Indian Country:

• H.R.1373, the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. The bill bars new uranium mining on public lands around Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The Havasupai Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation are among those in support.

A hearing took place before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on June 5, with the Trump administration indicating it won't stand in the way of Congress.

• H.R.2181, the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act. The bill bars oil and gas drilling on public lands around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico. TheNavajo Nation and 19 Pueblo tribes are in support.

A hearing took place before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on June 5, with the Trump administration indicating it won't stand in the way of Congress. A temporary delay of one year is already in place at the Department of the Interior, adopted by Secretary David Bernhardt after he visited Chaco in May and heard concerns from tribal leaders.

The markup takes place at 10am Eastern on Wednesday in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building. It will be webcast on the committee's site.

House Committee on Natural Resources: Interviews with members of the Havasupai Tribe on the importance of the Grand Canyon

House Committee on Natural Resources Notice

Full Committee Markup (July 17, 2019)

Recap: #KeepItGrand at U.S. Capitol - June 4, 2019

Happening Soon: Leaders of the Havasupai Tribe and the Navajo Nation will join members in Congress in seeking a permanent ban on new uranium development around the Grand Canyon. Webcast at 12:15pm Eastern. #Arizona #ProtectTheSacred https://t.co/rJ1O6XPU00
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

Happening Soon: Leaders of the Havasupai Tribe and the Navajo Nation will join members in Congress in seeking a permanent ban on new uranium development around the Grand Canyon. Webcast at 12:15pm Eastern. #Arizona #ProtectTheSacred #KeepItGrand https://t.co/rJ1O6XPU00 pic.twitter.com/tZvY2CUveY
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

“Everybody knows it’s a special place,” Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) says of need to ban new uranium development around Grand Canyon. “It’s a sacred place for many tribes.” #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred #Arizona pic.twitter.com/B0mH7HO35s
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

“Uranium mining has left a toxic legacy around Arizona,” says Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) whose district includes Grand Canyon. He is cosponsor of H.R.1373, the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. Bill bans new uranium mining around Grand Canyon. #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred pic.twitter.com/Wgk3pazEHj
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

“I know all too well the damaging effects uranium mining can have on a community,” says Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM). Her tribe, Laguna Pueblo, had uranium mine on reservation. She chairs House subcommittee that will hear H.R.1373, Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. #KeepItGrand pic.twitter.com/h2RUL1Npmj
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

“We are in near extinction,” says Carletta Tilousi, council member from Havasupai Tribe in calling for ban on uranium mining around its homelands in the Grand Canyon. Tribe supports H.R.1373, the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred pic.twitter.com/qcME5ehSMW
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

“The Navajo Nation has suffered profound impacts from uranium mining,” says Vice President Myron Lizer. Tribe has banned uranium mining on reservation and supports ban on new development around Grand Canyon. #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred @NNVPLizer2019 pic.twitter.com/eoNcjYvbIP
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

A statement from Chairman Timothy L. Nuvangyaoma of the Hopi Tribe is being read in support of ban on uranium mining around Grand Canyon. Nuvangyaoma calls Grand Canyon the “birthplace of the Hopi people.” #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred #Arizona pic.twitter.com/tVrVPPyFmV
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019

Havasupai Tribe: “Our protest song — no uranium mining!” #KeepItGrand #HonorTheSacred #Arizona pic.twitter.com/oxC0f5XLYf
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 4, 2019