Kalle Benallie
ICT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Future leasing and mining claims around a 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico will now be prevented and more than 4,700 known archaeological sites will be protected.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, issued a public land order on Friday that withdraws public lands and federal mineral estate for 20 years. The announcement comes nearly two years after President Joe Biden’s promise to take action to protect Chaco at the White House Tribal Nations Summit in 2021.
However, the withdrawal does not affect valid existing leases and does not apply to minerals owned by private, state or tribal entities, according to a news release. Production from existing wells can continue, additional wells can be drilled on existing leases, and Navajo Nation allottees can continue to lease their minerals.
Haaland said Chaco Canyon is a sacred place for Indigenous people and Biden’s action shows his commitment to Indian Country.
“Efforts to protect the Chaco landscape have been ongoing for decades, as tribal communities have raised concerns about the impacts that new development would have on areas of deep cultural connection,” she said in a statement. “I value and appreciate the many tribal leaders, elected officials, and stakeholders who have persisted in their work to conserve this special area.”
(Previous: A renew push for broader Chaco protection)
The Bureau of Land Management undertook the assessment of the proposal withdrawal in 2022 where they received more than 110,000 verbal and written comments for their public outreach and review period. There were two in-person public meetings during a 30-day review period of the environmental assessment and 24 tribal nations were consulted on the proposal. Department leadership and the Bureau of Land Management also met with Navajo allotment holders several times, according to a news release.
“The exceptional landscape in the Greater Chaco region has profound cultural importance,” Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in a statement. “Today’s announcement marks an important step in ensuring Indigenous voices help inform the management of our public lands. I am deeply appreciative of those who gave of their time to engage with us, and to the BLM team members who took great care to be as inclusive as possible in their engagement.”
The All Pueblo Council of Governors, representing 19 tribes in New Mexico, released a news release expressing their gratitude for the withdrawal. They have consistently called for the withdrawal of federal lands that also preserve development rights for Indian tribes and tribal allottees.
Laguna Pueblo Gov. Wilfred Herrera Jr. said Haaland’s action sets a precedent by the federal government.
“It would not have been possible without the hard work, advocacy, dedication, and compromise of the Tribes and stakeholders. This formal action enables and empowers Tribes to preserve their past and current connections in a new era of land stewardship for today and for future generations,” Herrera said.
On Friday, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley expressed disappointment in the decision.
“The Navajo Nation attempted to compromise by proposing a 5-mile buffer as opposed to the 10-mile,” Curley said. “The Biden Administration has undermined the position of the Navajo Nation with today’s action and impacted the livelihood of thousands of Navajo allotment owners and their families.”
New Mexico’s congressional delegation reintroduced legislation last month that would formalize the same buffer around the park.
In March, Biden named Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada a national monument. That space is sacred to many tribes in that area. In 2021, he restored the boundaries for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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