Biden Designates Monument Protecting Tribal Land Around Grand Canyon

President Joe Biden traveled to Arizona on Tuesday to announce the proclamation of a new national monument, protecting nearly 1 million acres of land surrounding the Grand Canyon and preventing new uranium mining leases.

Details: The new monument is titled the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The land holds cultural significance for the Havasupai and Hopi tribes in the region. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai, and “I’tah Kukveni” means “our footprints” for the Hopi. The proclamation is facing backlash from some mining companies seeking to mine the uranium deposits in the now-protected region. 

Key Quotes: A White House press release stated, “Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s unprecedented commitment to protect America’s natural wonders for future generations, honor culturally significant areas, and tell a more complete story of our nation, President Biden will sign a proclamation establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said the monument “will help address past injustices and create a partnership between the United States and the region's tribal nations in caring for these lands.” Buster Johnson, a Mohave County supervisor, objected to the proclamation, arguing, “We need uranium for the security of our country.”

How the Media Covered It: Fox News’ (Right bias) headline focused on the environmental angle of the proclamation, labeling it a “climate change push,” but the story itself centered around the land’s significance for the regions’ native tribes.