Tribal nations are uniting to defend the Grand Canyon against uranium mining, which Arizona lawmakers support through a lawsuit challenging the monument's status.
Taylar Dawn Stagner reports for Grist.
In short:
- Arizona lawmakers argue that the monument's creation under the Antiquities Act affects revenue and local economies, pushing for uranium mining.
- The Hopi, Havasupai, and Navajo Nation have intervened in the lawsuit, emphasizing their sovereign interests and ancestral connection to the land.
- Conservation groups back the tribes, highlighting the monument's significance for wildlife migration, cultural heritage, and food and medicine resources.
Key quote:
"The tribes fought very hard for the establishment of the monument and are here to defend it."
— Mathew Campbell, Legal Counsel for the Havasupai and Hopi Tribes
Why this matters:
Mining in this area could threaten the ecosystem, water sources, and cultural heritage of tribal nations, reinforcing the need to balance environmental and cultural preservation against economic interests. Read more: Kevin Patterson on Indigenous communities’ heavy metal exposure.
