Pew Celebrates President Biden’s Designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

WASHINGTON—The Pew Charitable Trusts praised President Joe Biden today for establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which will provide greater protections for approximately 1 million acres of public lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

The monument will honor the rich cultural ties—historic and present—of many Tribes to this region; help protect a source of clean drinking water to millions of people living downstream; sustain the local tourism economy through abundant options for outdoor recreation; and support existing agricultural operations.   

The designation is the culmination of decades of collaboration among Tribes, local and state leaders, area businesses, and community members, as well as members of Arizona’s current congressional delegation, including Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ). The monument’s boundaries closely reflect a proposal long advocated by local Tribes—including the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and Colorado River Indian Tribes—to permanently protect this important region.

Marcia Argust, director of Pew’s U.S. conservation project, issued this statement:

“Pew thanks President Biden for his actions today to provide greater safeguards for the Grand Canyon region. This moment is a direct answer to the decades of work and leadership from Tribes to protect their ancestral and current homelands.

“The monument is all the more significant because the ecological protections it provides support greater resilience to the impacts of a changing climate in Arizona.  And while the Grand Canyon is one of the United States’ most cherished places, the landscape surrounding the national park has been at risk of uranium mining and other extractive development, which could degrade drinking water and damage cultural sites across the region. The new monument will prevent uranium mining and other threats from occurring on public lands, helping to ensure the sustenance of the natural resources that support the local tourism economy.”

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress.