Bears Ears, Utah and its surrounding areas are national treasures. This region includes some of the most amazing technicolor sand stone deserts of the American West. In addition to its geologic wonders, the area is rich with indigenous culture, both current and pre-Columbian, with ancient ruins, burial grounds, and petroglyphs and pictographs spanning from early Fremont and Archaic cultures, through Chaco culture and Spanish colonialism (horses start to appear in the images).
Located at the south end of the beautiful Abajo Mountains, Bears Ears is in the approximate vicinity of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Natural Bridges National Monument, Glenn Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Four Corners
Sadly, Bears Ears is a fragile environment, and is cursed with an abundance of extremely difficult to extract, extremely dirty energy sources. Some of you may have been following Rep. Bishop’s (Utah — Fascist) attempt to hand our public lands, and our indigenous Brothers’ and Sisters’ patrimony over to extractive interests. Much like Standing Rock, few of our Democrat “leaders” have stood up with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition who are fighting to protect their lands, water, heritage, and this pubic commons. This is unacceptable.
However, President Obama can do something to, if not prevent, at least hinder, Trump & Bishop’s plan to destroy this unique and irreplaceable piece of our American public lands and the heritage of those from whom the land is given meaning. Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, President Obama has the power to unilaterally declare “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" as National Monuments.
On this American Indian Heritage Day, please join me in signing the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition’s petition asking that Obama declare this natural and cultural wonder a National Monument. The link to the site will be at the bottom of this. This may be our last, only, and best chance. Thank you.
www.bearsearscoalition.org