President Obama delighted Native American tribes and environmentalists Wednesday by proclaiming the 1.35-million-acre Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah.
He called the region “unsurpassed in wonders,” citing its abundance of cultural and natural resources. But the designation enraged the state’s elected officials, who pledged to try to undo the monument. The action comes after years of controversy. An inter-tribal coalition had called for a monument of 1.9 million acres. Utah Congressman Rob Bishop had offered a sweeping bill with lesser protections as an alternative, but his Public Lands Initiative died. In a video statement, Bishop said Utahns are “saddened” by the proclamation and will use “every tool at our disposal. . . to right this wrong.” But Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye commented, “Thankfully, President Obama and his team listened to our sovereign nations.” The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are to manage the monument with advice from a commission representing five tribes. The proclamation calls for continued access for traditional Native American uses, such as collecting medicinal plants and firewood. Navajo Nation Council delegate for four Utah chapters Davis Filfred tells KSJD 2016 has been the “Year of the Bears,” since the Cubs won the World Series. Filfred says, “Now we just have to give each other some bear hugs, because a lot of work went into this.”
