President Joe Biden, we urge you to designate Chuckwalla National Monument

Thomas Tortez Jr.
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians

Jordan D. Joaquin
Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe

Since time immemorial, our tribes — the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe — and our sister tribes have been the guardians of the California Desert. Some may see the desert as desolate and uninhabited, but this place encompasses our origins, history, ancient sites, trails, and more. The desert is a rich tapestry of our heritage; it’s a living, breathing testament to our people’s resilience, our history, and our spiritual connection with nature. Our footprints have been etched into the landscape since the beginning of time and we continue to provide stewardship over these lands and advocate for their protection.

The desert is not just part of our past; it is our present and future. This profound bond is why we urge President Joe Biden to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument. The proposed 627,000-acre monument stretches from the Coachella Valley to near the Colorado River. We are also asking the president to protect an additional 17,000 acres of public lands that are adjacent to the east side of Joshua Tree National Park.

This region is more than a tract of land. It is the heartbeat of our culture and encompasses the homeland of the Iviatim, Nüwü, Pipa Aha Macav, Kwatsáan, and Maara’yam peoples, also known as the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mohave (Colorado River Indian Tribes/CRIT Mohave), Quechan, and Serrano nations. These landscapes are etched with stories of our ancestors, sacred sites that anchor our origin stories, and places that continue to define our cultural identity.

For the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Painted Canyon in the Mecca Hills is a canvas of our history. For the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Palo Verde Peak is deeply ingrained in the spirituality and culture of Quechan people. It is part of a bigger ancestral trail corridor and cultural landscape, connecting Avi Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain) in Nevada to Palo Verde Peak and Avi Kwalal in the south.

These sacred spaces, part of a vast ancestral trail, are threads in the fabric of our existence. Yet, they face desecration, vandalism, and the threat of erasure due to incompatible development and disrespect of their sanctity. This reality is a call to action: to preserve and protect these lands into the future.

Granting national monument status is not just about conservation. It’s a recognition of our tribes enduring stewardship of these lands. Our ancestors have been the caretakers of this desert for millenia, nurturing its biodiversity and preserving its ecological balance. As co-stewards with the federal agencies that manage these places, we can offer not just our deep-seated connection but also our ancestral knowledge in managing these landscapes. This partnership would be a step forward in rectifying historical injustices and recognizing the role of Indigenous peoples in land management.

Under the leadership of President Biden and Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, there’s been unprecedented progress in honoring tribal voices and protecting public lands. The administration has already safeguarded over 41 million acres of lands and waters, a testament to their commitment to environmental preservation and tribal sovereignty. By designating Chuckwalla National Monument, President Biden would solidify the legacy he built throughout his entire career as a champion of public lands and a champion of the priorities of tribal nations.

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In June, the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management hosted a community meeting on the proposed monument. Hundreds of people attended to offer their support of the monument. Most moving was the multi-generational presence of tribal leaders and tribal members, from our elders to our children. At the start of the event, traditional bird singers and dancers from multiple tribes came together and eight tribal leaders spoke with great impact about the reasons we want to see the monument designated.

And in May, Secretary Haaland visited the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and met with tribal leaders. This was an important opportunity to share with the secretary why we want to see this landscape protected and we are deeply grateful that she traveled to the California desert for this conversation.

We, alongside our sister tribes — the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Mohave Elders — stand united in our plea for the Chuckwalla National Monument. This is more than a conservation issue; it’s a moral imperative.

By declaring these lands a national monument, we ensure that the stories, traditions, and spiritual practices of our people are not lost to the annals of history. We also have the opportunity to safeguard them for the next generation. What we decide and preserve today will shape our future. President Biden, we urge you to protect our lands and, in doing so, protect our Indigenous way of life for generations to come.

Thomas Tortez Jr. is the Chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and Jordan D. Joaquin is the President of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe.

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