Contact: Camilla Simon, HECHO, camilla@hechoonline.org, 503-975-6355
LAS CRUCES, N.M. [Dec. 22, 2021] – This week, the Biden-Harris Administration issued its initial report on the America the Beautiful Initiative, highlighting important steps to conserve and restore our nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife and to achieve more equitable outdoor access for American communities. Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO) applauds the initial efforts taken by the Administration and encourages the President to take further, and more decisive action on protecting critical landscapes important to diverse communities across the country.
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Today, President Biden restored Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, carrying out a campaign promise to protect more than 2 million acres of national public lands, and making good on his America the Beautiful initiative.
For time immemorial, Bears Ears National Monument has been stewarded by the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, and Pueblo of Zuni, who have been advocating for the protection of this culturally and archeologically significant landscape. Together, they are the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, and they recently published a letter to the White House urging protection for the sacred site where religious ceremonies continue to take place. President Biden’s announcement comes on the eve of Indigenous People’s Day and evokes the importance of prioritizing Indigenous perspectives in the management of our public lands.
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Albuquerque, New Mexico (December 27, 2020) -- Following the holiday at Petroglyph National Monument, a Navajo and Oneida man named Darrell House was repeatedly tased by a National Park Service ranger for stepping off-trail to maintain social distancing protocols when he noticed a crowd walking in his direction.
The site plays an important role for Indigenous people, and was designated after Native American activists sought to protect the stone carvings from vandalism and land development. House visited the national monument to pray before the petroglyphs, and to collect earth for ceremonies.
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For generations, Hispanics have enjoyed a unique relationship with nature that connects us to our ancestors and fortifies the bond that we have with our community. Being able to practice these cultural traditions that depend on open spaces, is more critical than ever, and policy that includes Hispanic and Latinx values is especially urgent. For all of these reasons, Hispanic and Latinx leadership is invaluable in conservation legislation that is implemented and passed.
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I grew up in southern Nevada in the Las Vegas area. At that time Las Vegas was already a very casino-centric town – with not a lot of entertainment options for families. So for my parents who had small kids, public lands was a way to entertain us. We spent a lot of weekends discovering new places.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2019) — A new management plan for the tiny areas that replaced the Bears Ears National Monument would risk the degradation and destruction of Native American historical and cultural artifacts, wildlife habitat, public health and public lands throughout southern Utah. The National Wildlife Federation and allies urged the Bureau of Land Management to reverse course before the cultural, historical and natural resources are irrevocably lost.
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By Arizona state Rep. Mark Cardenas, Utah state Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck and Nevada state Sen. Mo Denis
As state representatives of the Southwest, we are concerned about the future of our national monuments. Right now, both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are under attack, and the public has just a short window to weigh in.
Both of these monuments are in Utah, but they are vital to us all, as they safeguard our nation’s diverse history and cultural heritage. Our voices are part of the two-thirds of western voters, and 86 percent of Latino voters in the west, who say that reducing these monuments is a bad idea. We are proud to have public lands in our backyard — lands that belong to all of us.
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November is a spectacular time to be outdoors, and we are highlighting our recommendations for special bird watching events, urban fishing opportunities, ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, and tips for visiting Utah’s National Monuments during this beautiful fall season.
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The 2018 Colorado College Conservation in the West Poll was just released last month, finding that the Trump Administration’s energy and environmental polices are unpopular in the West. It also reconfirmed what HECHO already knows – that more and more Latinos are identifying as conservationist. Here are some highlights from this year’s poll that we thought you’d be interested in.
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ACTION ALERT: On Tuesday, January 30 at 2pm ET, the House Natural Resources Committee will have a hearing on H.R. 4532 – a bill which WOULD ELIMINATE BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT. Please join HECHO in standing with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Commission's five sovereign tribal nations, including the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Pueblo of Zuni, the Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, in saying NO TO H.R. 4532.
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HECHO condemns yesterday's announcement by President Trump that he intends to roll back protections of more public lands than ever before in our history by reducing Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by half.
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Read what Utah State Representative and HECHO Board Member Rebecca Chavez-Houck had to say about President Trump's upcoming visit to Utah, and plans to shrink our beloved National Monuments. This article originally appeared as an op-ed in Utah's Deseret News on November 23, 2017.
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HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors) eagerly awaits the public release of Secretary Zinke’s report detailing his recommendations to change a handful of monuments. Which monuments will be reduced in size and by how much is unclear, as the Administration has yet to release the full report to the public.
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HECHO Board Member Kent Salazar speaks out about the importance of New Mexico's national monuments as we await Secretary Zinke's review. Please read his op-ed in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
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On July 28 U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to introduce a bipartisan resolution that supports the commitment of the Latino community to engage in conservation efforts. The resolution recognizes the contributions of the Latino community to conservation and wildlife protection and urges increased access to public lands for all Americans.
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Most people think of Nevada as the home of the Las Vegas strip – and that’s it. But, there’s so much more to explore in the state. From high alpine wilderness to the floor of the Mojave desert, Nevada is a state of incredible natural diversity known around the world as an exceptional outdoor recreation destination. And the landscape of the state provides a lot more than just recreation and relaxation: it’s also a vital part of the economy, culture, and history.
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ACTION ALERT: Let Secretary Zinke know you that you support keeping Bears Ears National Monument in place. Take 5 minutes to submit your comments online...
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