CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, NEW MEXICO
The stillness that enveloped Chaco Canyon was broken only by the sound of a raven's wings as it circled overhead.
Then a chorus of leaders from several Native American tribes began to speak, their voices echoing off the nearby sandstone cliffs.
The Indigenous leaders from the Hopi Tribe in Arizona and several New Mexico pueblos were beyond grateful that the federal government is taking what they believe to be more meaningful steps toward permanent protections for cultural resources in northwestern New Mexico.
They spoke of a deep connection to the canyon the heart of Chaco Culture National Historic Park and the importance of ensuring that oil and gas development beyond the park's boundaries does not sever that tie for future generations.
After fighting for years with multiple presidential administrations, they're optimistic the needle is moving now that one of their own U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland holds the reins of the federal agency that oversees energy development and tribal affairs.
Haaland, who is from Laguna Pueblo and is the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, joined tribal leaders at Chaco this week to celebrate the beginning of a process that aims to withdraw federal land holdings within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the park boundary, making the area off-limits to oil and gas leasing for 20 years.
New leases on federal land in the area will be halted for the next two years while the withdrawal proposal is considered.
Haaland also committed to taking a broader look at how federal land across the region can be better managed while taking into account environmental effects and cultural preservation.
"It's a nice day a beautiful day that our father the sun blessed us with. The creator laid out the groundwork for today," Hopi Vice Chairman Clark Tenakhongva said Monday.
Hub of Indigenous civilization
A World Heritage site, Chaco is thought to be the center of what was once a hub of Indigenous civilization with many tribes from the Southwest tracing their roots to the high desert outpost.
Within the park, walls of stacked stone jut from the bottom of the canyon, some perfectly aligned with the seasonal movements of the sun and moon. Circular subterranean rooms called kivas are cut into the desert floor, and archaeologists have found evidence of great roads that stretched across what are now New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
Visitors often marvel at the architectural prowess of Chaco's early residents. But for many Indigenous people in the Southwest, Chaco Canyon holds a more esoteric significance.
The Hopi call it "Yupkoyvi," simply translated as way beyond the other side of the mountains.
"Whose land do we all occupy? We walk the land of the creator. That's what was told to us at the beginning at the bottom of the Grand Canyon," Tenakhongva said. "Many of us have that connection. Many of us can relate to how important the Grand Canyon is. Ask the Zuni, the Laguna, the Acoma. They made their trip from there to this region. We know the importance of these areas."
Source of strength
Pueblo leaders also talked about areas near Zuni Pueblo in western New Mexico and Bears Ears National Monument in Utah that are tied to Chaco civilization.
Laguna Governor Martin Kowemy Jr. said Chaco is a vital part of who his people are.
"Pueblo people can all relate through song, prayer and pilgrimage," he said. "Now more than ever, connections to our peoples' identities are a source of strength in difficult times. We must ensure these connections will not be severed, but remain intact for future generations."
Acoma Pueblo Governor Brian Vallo said the beliefs, songs, ceremonies and other traditions that have defined generations of Pueblo people originated at Chaco.
"Our fight to protect this sacred place is rooted in what our elders teach us and what we know as descendants of those who settled here," Vallo said. "That is our responsibility to maintain our connection, our deep-felt obligation and protective stewardship of this sacred place."
Development pressure
Both the Obama and Trump administrations put on hold leases adjacent to the park through agency actions, but some tribes, archaeologists and environmentalists have been pushing for permanent protections.
Congressional legislation is pending, but there has been disagreement over how big the buffer should be.
The Navajo Nation oversees much of the land that makes up the jurisdictional checkerboard surrounding the national park. Some parts belong to individual Navajos who were allotted land by the federal government generations ago.
Navajo leaders support preserving parts of the area but have said individual allottees stand to lose an important income source if the land is made off-limits to development. Millions of dollars in royalties are at stake for tribal members who are grappling with poverty and high unemployment rates.
Haaland's agency has vowed to consult with tribes over the next two years as the withdrawal proposal is considered, but top Navajo leaders are suggesting they're being ignored. Noticeably absent from Monday's celebration were the highest elected leaders of the tribe's legislative and executive branches.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Daniel Tso has been among a minority within tribal government speaking out against development in the region. He said communities east of Chaco are "under siege" from increased drilling.
"Yes, we want the landscape protected, we want better air quality, we want to protect the water aquifer, we want to protect the sacred," he said. "The undisturbed landscape holds much sacredness. It brings peace of mind, it brings a settled heart and it gives good spiritual strength."
No matter what side they're on, many Navajos feel their voices aren't being heard.
Listening sessions
Haaland on Monday invited everyone to participate in the listening sessions that will be held as part of the process, which she has dubbed "Honoring Chaco."
Environmentalists say the region is a prime example of the problems of tribal consultation and that Haaland's effort could mark a shift toward more tribal involvement in future decision-making when it comes to identifying and protecting cultural resources.
"By creating a new collaborative process with 'Honoring Chaco' we have the ability to ameliorate broken promises and to right the wrongs of consultation just being a check-the-box exercise," said Rebecca Sobel, of the group WildEarth Guardians. "Hopefully it will be the beginning of a new relationship."
See the original post here:
Native Americans See Progress, Work Ahead to Protect Cultural Lands - Voice of America
- Progress Lighting - Home - December 22nd, 2016 [December 22nd, 2016]
- Home - Progress Lighting Outlet - Authorized Progress Dealer - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- What does progress mean? - Definitions.net - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- Progress Fire Company Harrisburg, PA - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- Homepage Center for American Progress - January 13th, 2017 [January 13th, 2017]
- Progress being made on possible grocery store co-op in Winston-Salem - myfox8.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Nioh Review-in-Progress: FromSoftware's Formula Evolved - Shacknews - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Deutsche Bundesbank Cites Progress With Blockchain-Based Settlement - CryptoCoinsNews - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- IMF: Greece's debts are still unsustainable despite progress - The Seattle Times - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Think Progress Editor Mocks Audi for Equal Pay Super Bowl Ad - Breitbart News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Progress apparent on defense - Pittsburgh Steelers - Steelers.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- IMF: Greece's Debts are Still Unsustainable, Despite Progress - Voice of America - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Can US disrupter-in-chief trigger some progress? - Jerusalem Post Israel News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- The Cost of Progress - Slate Magazine - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Cavaliers' pitching rotation a work in progress | Cavalier Insider ... - The Daily Progress - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- High schoolers create 'zines for progress' with WolfsonianFIU - FIU News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Cries of 'dictator' show Pope Francis is making progress - Crux: Covering all things Catholic - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Officials: City is making progress in effort to address opioid crisis - The Union Leader - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- IN OUR VIEW: Work Ready in Progress for Carter - The Independent - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- BP's Earnings Keep Showing Progress, Even if the Headline Results Don't Say So - Motley Fool - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Women's Progress in the Boardroom Took a Hit in 2016 - Inc.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Blight Elimination Progress, Uplifting - MyWabashValley - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Rauner 'heartened' by progress in Springfield - Bloomington Pantagraph - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- David Johnson showed off the insane progress he's making in rehab from his knee injury - USA TODAY - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Through the looking glass: Tower view showcases progress on Amazon's unique biospheres - GeekWire - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Britney Spears Says Niece Maddie Is 'Making Progress' After ATV Accident: 'Let's All Keep Praying' - PEOPLE.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Progress on vet's Mustang to be unveiled - Indianapolis Star - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Evgeni Malkin making 'progress,' could return Saturday in Arizona - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Forecasters See Slow Progress in Labor-Market Measures Favored by Trump Administration - Wall Street Journal - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- 'Paper boys' were the lifeblood of The Daily Progress - The Daily Progress - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Cliffs Natural Resources Is Showing a Lot of Progress on Its Return to Profitability - Motley Fool - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- ATA says states' telemedicine progress a mixed bag ... - FierceHealthcare - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Seltzer's Notebook | Colangelo Encouraged by Sixers' Progress - Sixers.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- The Trump administration can't entirely roll back progress on climate change here's why - Washington Post - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Colts position review: OL showed legit progress, but work remains - Indianapolis Star - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Egyptian Economy Making Slow, Tentative Progress - Voice of America - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- ATA: States show mixed progress with telemedicine | Healthcare Dive - Healthcare Dive - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Louisville City notes: McCabe making progress - The Courier-Journal - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Jeremy Lin: Progress but no timetable - NetsDaily - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Marginal progress for Turkish-backed forces in north Syria - LA Daily News - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Jimmy Cheek: UT chancellor appreciative of hard work, progress on journey - Knoxville News Sentinel - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Syria Regional Crisis 2016 Emergency Appeal - Progress Report - Reliefweb - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- CWLP officials: Bailout repayment would set back progress - The State Journal-Register - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Pistons' Johnson making halting but definite progress - The Detroit News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Clairton works: Real progress is coming to the former steel town - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- The Democrats' Strategy: Hindering Progress For Partisan Politics - Daily Caller - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- The surprising progress stoppers on the Dallas Cowboys defensive line - Cowboys Wire - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Gender Progress in Ballet - Huffington Post - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Foyt pleased with progress, regrets lack of time - Motorsport.com, Edition: Global - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Progress Made, but Threat Lingers at California's Oroville Dam - Wall Street Journal - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Adele, Beyonc, and the Grammys' Fear of Progress - The Atlantic - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- North Korea Claims Progress on Long-Range Goal With Missile Test - New York Times - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- How Travel Bans Can Impede America's Progress - Forbes - Forbes - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Jeff Sessions' appointment threatens decades of civil rights progress - The Hill (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Ionis Earns $75M Milestone from Bayer for Progress of Antisense Drug Program - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Guilford Schools annual report shows mixed results on progress - Greensboro News & Record (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Sniper Elite 4 review in progress - PC Gamer - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- For Honor Review In Progress - GameSpot - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- China's military progress challenges Western dominance, says IISS - Deutsche Welle - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- PFW in Progress Recap 2/14: Patriots Offseason Outlook | New ... - Patriots.com - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Daily Progress, chamber establish regional business Hall of Fame - The Daily Progress - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Huntsville-based Progress Bank to acquire Birmingham's First Partners Bank - Birmingham Business Journal - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- City, UF sign partnership for progress - Gainesville Sun - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- California officials lift evacuation order for 200000 threatened by damaged dam - CBS News - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- 5G progress at Ericsson could help enterprises work worldwide - Computerworld - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Officials making 'great progress' on California dam repairs, remind residents to stay vigilant - Fox News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Halo Wars 2 Review in Progress - IGN - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- CUGNON: Forward progress - Yale Daily News (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- F-35 Program Makes Significant, Solid Progress, Official Says - Department of Defense - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Lenovo's data center ambitions remain work in progress following Q3 results - ZDNet - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- PFW in Progress Recap 2/16: Free Agency and Potential Patriots - Patriots.com - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- S&P 500: 'Blow-off' Phase in Progress - DailyFX - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Combine invites are another sign of progress at Michigan - Big Ten ... - ESPN (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Halo Wars 2 review in progress - PC Gamer - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- 'Hero' film produced just for Charlottesville featured the mayor, The Daily Progress - The Daily Progress - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Republicans' health care overhaul still a work in progress - Press Herald - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Trump Boasts Of 'Incredible Progress' In 4 Weeks Of Presidency - NPR - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Donald Trump touts promise progress at press conference - PolitiFact - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Mild winter helping crews make significant progress on East End Connector - WRAL.com - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Committee updates Legislature on precinct consolidation progress - Chicago Tribune - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]