Event Recap: May 27, 2020 Digital Briefing and Advocacy Training to Protect the Grand Canyon

Advocates for the Grand Canyon came together on Wednesday for a digital briefing and advocacy training about the threat of uranium mining at the Grand Canyon. Community members joined the call from across the nation, sharing why protecting the national park is important to them.

HECHO presenters Camilla Simon and Elizabeth Archuleta discussed recent recommendations released by the Nuclear Fuels Working Group supporting opening up public lands near the Grand Canyon for uranium mining. They also informed advocates about a proposal to permanently protect the public lands around the Grand Canyon, introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva and passed by the House in March 2020 called the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act.

#MyGrandCanyonStory | Viviana Reyes

HECHO spoke with Viviana Reyes of Flagstaff, Arizona to learn about her personal connection to the Grand Canyon, her favorite memories there, and why she believes the Grand Canyon should be protected from uranium mining.

HECHO: What is your personal connection the Grand Canyon

Viviana Reyes (VR): As far as my personal connection to the Grand Canyon, I was born and raised in Arizona. I grew up in Phoenix, and, as a child, the Grand Canyon was one of the only places that we were really able to visit. For one, it’s in our home state and it was really close. And, also, it’s kind of an affordable place to visit in the sense that we would just kind of get together as a family and drive. One of the first times I got to visit was with an uncle and it was super breathtaking and beautiful. I remember thinking that it wasn’t real, that it just looked like a picture, like a postcard almost.

#MyGrandCanyonStory | Lynn Córdova

HECHO sat down with Lynn Cordova of Arizona to learn about her connection to the Grand Canyon, and why she believes the Grand Canyon should be protected from uranium mining.

HECHO: Why do you think it’s important to advocate for national parks against the threat of uranium mining?

Lynn Cordova (LC): I think national parks are important, and we, as a society, need to have places to visit and unwind. As you probably know and read my story about growing up, and growing up low income, I didn't have a ton of exposure to public lands. I lived in Colorado, and it's a beautiful state. There are tons of mountains and hiking trails, but I rarely got to experience that because, often times, it was a matter of my mother not having enough money to even get us to the mountains. If we did, it was the closest foothills we could get to and that was our version of a picnic or camping.

Now that I'm older, and since I have yet to visit the Grand Canyon, it’s on my bucket list— especially since I now live in Arizona. I want to ensure that it's going to be available for me to visit. But if uranium mining occurs, I’m worried about the potential of water contamination in the area, and who knows what other repercussions could happen from that. It’s important to ensure that it doesn't happen so that everyone can visit the Grand Canyon.

Event Recap: HECHO's Cocktails & Conservation Celebrates 50 Years of Earth Day

With the Grand Canyon set as their Zoom virtual backgrounds, over 20 community members came together virtually to celebrate Earth Day’s 50th anniversary with HECHO, enjoying a cocktail demonstration (a fan favorite, La Paloma), a virtual visit to the Grand Canyon, and climate change trivia.

Community members from across the nation participated in the event that was presented in partnership with the Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Trust. Event presenters included HECHO Advisory Board and founding member, Elizabeth Archuleta, as well as Senior Advisor for the Stewardship and Tribal Programs at Grand Canyon National Park, Jan Balsom, Energy Program Director for the Grand Canyon Trust, Amber Reimondo, and Energy Program Associate for the Grand Canyon Trust, Megan Kelly.

Press Release: New Recommendations Risk Public Health and Safety, Invites Uranium Mining at the Grand Canyon

FLAGSTAFF (April 23, 2020)—Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) opposed new recommendations released today from the Nuclear Fuels Working Group citing the audacity of its claims that the U.S. Government ought to “revive and strengthen the uranium mining industry” by streamlining “land access for uranium extraction”—a move that could open up uranium mining outside the Grand Canyon.

Event Recap: Local "Agua Es Vida" Event Informs and Engages Community Members about Uranium Mining Impacts Around the Grand Canyon

Nov. 20, 2019 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Today more than 30 community leaders gathered at the Rio Salado Audubon Center for an event organized by HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors) to discuss uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, and its effects on Native American and Hispanic communities.

Grand CanyonGuest UserNovember 21, 2019Event Recap, Agua Es Vida, Grand Canyon, Uranium Mining, Cocktails & Conservation, Liz Archuleta, ArizonaComment

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