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Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada on Wednesday, raising hopes that President Biden could invoke the Antiquities Act to protect public lands that are sacred to several Tribal nations.
Haaland traveled to the Mojave desert along with Rep. Susie Lee, Bureau of Land Management State Director Jon Raby, and Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis. The officials met with members of the Fort Mojave Tribe to visit the landscape, also known as Spirit Mountain, which is the place of origin of ten Yuman-speaking Tribes.
“Photos don't do this beautiful view justice,” Haaland wrote on Twitter later in the day. “I met with Tribal and community leaders to discuss what this area means to them and the challenges that lie ahead.”
E&E News reports that the Interior Department declined to answer questions about whether Haaland has made any recommendations to President Biden about a monument proclamation in Nevada. Creating new national monuments would be a major step towards the president's America the Beautiful goal of protecting 30 percent of America's lands and waters by the end of the decade.
The Center for Western Priorities visited Avi Kwa Ame last year as part of our Road to 30: Postcards multimedia series. Locally-led conservation campaigns are also asking President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to create national monuments at the Castner Range in Texas and Camp Hale-Continental Divide in Colorado.
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We were treated in Tuba City like we were in the military. We were marched; we were physically abused by being kicked. I did not know anything at the time of the decree.”
