Washington, D.C. - Today, President Joe Biden committed to designating Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) a National Monument in Southern Nevada during the 2022 White House’s Tribal Nation’s Summit. The President’s anticipated use of the Antiquities Act would protect an area sacred to ten Yuman speaking tribes (the Mohave, Hualapai, Yavapai, Havasupai, Quechan, Maricopa, Pai Pai, and Kumeyaay) as well as the Hopi and Southern Paiute.
Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s promise to designate Avi Kwa Ame a national monument:
“Today’s commitment by President Biden to designate Avi Kwa Ame honors the decades-long efforts of Tribes, local and regional governments, and advocates from Indigenous, outdoor recreation, conservation and many other communities.
Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain and the surrounding area, is the point of creation for ten Yuman-speaking Tribes and sacred to the Southern Paiute and Hopi tribes. The roughly 450,000 acres to be designated would connect the Mojave desert from the Mojave Preserve in California to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Arizona/Nevada border. This type of connectivity is key to achieving the goals of the Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful effort, and will lead to increased resiliency for the region in the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis.
We are excited to have Avi Kwa Ame National Monument joining the National Conservation Lands, America's newest designation of publicly-owned lands with some of the most spectacular natural, historical, cultural and archaeological sites in the country, and look forward to continuing to work with the Biden Administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and local elected officials to protect and expand National Conservation Lands across the country.”
You can hear about the importance of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument from members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe at AviKwaAme.com.
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About Conservation Lands Foundation
Conservation Lands Foundation leads the only national movement of grassroots advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.
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Conservation Lands Foundation published this page in Latest News 2022-11-30 10:51:56 -0700