Brains
The environment, nature, and wildlife are all things most people value or treasure, and the United States has some of the most beautiful and majestic places in the world to visit. Many people visit our national and state parks each year to escape the congestion and noise of the cities. The National Park Service stated that in 2022 there were 312 million recreation visits which was up 15 million visits (5%) from 2021. According to a 2021 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 80.7% percent of the U.S. population lives within urban areas. This is what makes the United State’s National and State parks so valuable to all the people who love the outdoors and nature.
On Tuesday, President Biden designated a new national monument named Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona. It protects almost 1 million acres of land, religious sites, plants, animals, and water sources that flow into the Colorado River. It also protects lands that are sacred to indigenous peoples and permanently bans new uranium mining claims in the area. According to the White House’s Fact Sheet, Baaj Nwaavjo (BAAHJ – NUH-WAAHV-JOH) means “where Indigenous peoples roam” in the Havasupai language, and i’tah kukveni (EE-TAH – KOOK-VENNY) means “our ancestral footprints” in the Hopi language.
The monument spans 917,618 acres of public lands managed by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service. The monument is made up of three distinct areas to the south, northeast, and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park. These areas consist of plateaus, deep canyons, creeks and streams, and many other natural wonders for people to enjoy.
This is President Biden’s fifth national monument that he has designated during his presidency with one honoring Emmet Till, and the other three protecting land in Colorado, Nevada, and Texas. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt was the first President to use the Antiquities Act to designate Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming. 18 presidents since then have used the Antiquities Act to protect our national treasures and natural wonders throughout the country.
On Tuesday, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland stated in a press release shared by the U.S. Department of Interior,
“Today’s action by President Biden makes clear that Native American history is American history. This land is sacred to the many Tribal Nations who have long advocated for its protection, and establishing a national monument demonstrates the importance of recognizing the original stewards of our public lands.”
3 months ago, Hopi Tribe Chair, Tim Nuvangyaoma said at the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Press Conference,
“The Creator gave us a gift. And that gift is in the form of the Grand Canyon. That gift is not only to the tribal nations that have that intimate connection with it, but it’s a gift to the state of Arizona. It’s a gift to the United States. It’s a gift to the entire world.”
