Administration announces new protections for the wider Grand Canyon region!

Photo credit: Amy S. Martin

Today, the administration announced new protections for the greater Grand Canyon region with our country’s newest national monument, the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The monument will protect about 1 million acres in the greater Grand Canyon region from the threat of uranium mining, where there are nearly 600 active leases.

The monument campaign, led by 12 Tribal nations, has been a decades-long effort. The monument’s name, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, comes from “Baaj Nwaavjo” meaning “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and “I’tah Kukveni” meaning “our footprints” for the Hopi Tribe.

"The Grand Canyon is an iconic landscape that is beloved by the outdoor recreation community for its exquisite outdoor experiences, and unquestionably deserves protection. The outdoor recreation community celebrates and stands behind the work of Tribes in protecting this special place, and we applaud President Biden for taking action to protect the wider Grand Canyon region through the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument today,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance.

The Grand Canyon is one of the best known and most cherished landscapes in the West, home to spectacular outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking and camping, rafting, mountain biking, climbing, and trail running. Today’s designation safeguards these important values, and advances the nation’s important goals to protect more land and water for both their ecological and social value.