‘A juncture teeming with significance and opportunity’

Taylor Patterson, Bishop Paiute Tribe
Executive Director for Native Voters Alliance-Nevada
Indigenous Voices of Nevada

As Indigenous leaders convene for the forthcoming White House Tribal Nations Summit, at the dawn of Indigenous Heritage Month, we stand at a juncture teeming with significance and opportunity. This is a time to both reflect and revere the enduring legacy of tribal nations as guardians of America’s breathtaking natural tapestry. Last year, I had the esteemed honor to be part of the 2022 tribal nations summit, a gathering marked by President Biden’s landmark commitment to the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument.

The global Indigenous community is a testament to an unyielding commitment to preserving our planet’s most precious ecosystems. Here in the United States, Indigenous-led conservation initiatives have shaped and safeguarded landscapes that are not just parcels of land, but stories, histories, and futures entwined – places like Avi Kwa Ame, Bears Ears, Grand Staircase Escalante, and the newly minted Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, the ancestral footprints encircling the Grand Canyon. These tribal nations are the stewards of 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity, blending ancient wisdom with a deep-seated reverence for nature, a relationship underscored by global studies and reports.

Thanks to the Antiquities Act of 1906, many such victories have been possible – a legislative instrument that has woven the fabric of our nation’s heritage, with Indigenous peoples at its forefront in recent decades.

For Native tribes, the ethos of land stewardship is etched into our very being. Our communities are not just residents but the original stewards of these lands, charged with a sacred duty – a duty that has sustained our economies and cultures. This inherent bond between our people and the land is now resonating within the realms of scientific research and environmental policy.

Conservation stands as a bulwark against climate change, transforming protected areas into vital biodiversity havens and natural climate buffers. The sanctity of these lands, upheld by federal protection, secures essential water sources and supports both local and Indigenous economies.

Yet, a historical rift between our communities and the natural world has often disrupted the sacred interplay we have with the environment – a cycle of reciprocal respect and care. President Biden’s ambitious conservation goals, like protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, echo the ethos of tribal conservation efforts. This initiative is not just about combating climate change; it’s about rekindling the bond between people and the natural world, especially for Indigenous communities for whom these lands are inseparable from cultural identity and heritage.

As the executive director of Indigenous Voices of Nevada, I stand at the crossroads of advocacy and action. Through the Antiquities Act, the Biden administration holds a unique power to honor the commitments made to Indigenous leaders and to conservation. The calls from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, the Torres Martinez Band of Cahuilla Indians, Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe, and others for the Chuckwalla National Monument, as well as the Pitt River Tribe’s efforts to protect Saìttiìtla, Medicine Lake Highlands, are pivotal. Likewise, the push to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by the Fernandeño Tataviam and Gabrielino leaders is critical.

Now is the moment for these voices to be heard and acted upon. My upbringing, steeped in the reverence for lands like Avi Kwa Ame, has instilled in me a responsibility I carry fervently. This sense of duty drives me to call upon the Biden administration to harness the full potential of the upcoming summit, to work alongside tribes in nurturing and safeguarding our native lands.

Now, more than ever, is the time for collaborative action, for honoring commitments, and for charting a future where the land that has nurtured us is protected and revered, ensuring its gifts for generations to come. The future we envisioned is one where tribal-led conservation is not just celebrated but is integral to our national environmental strategy. It is a future where the voices of Indigenous communities are not just heard but are leading the charge in shaping a sustainable and equitable world.

Taylor Patterson is an enrolled member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe and lifelong Nevada resident. She is the Executive Director for Native Voters Alliance-Nevada and Indigenous Voices of Nevada. Native Voters Alliance-Nevada is an organization that promotes Native American engagement at all levels of the political process as well as promoting Native concerns. She continues to fight for recognition of Indigenous people and issues at all levels.

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