By Curtis Yanito, Navajo Nation Council Delegate and Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Commission

Bears Ears is more than a landscape—it is sacred. It is where our ancestors walked, where prayers rise with the wind, and where future generations will learn who they are. For generations, the Navajo Nation and the Tribal Nations of the Bears Ears Commission have protected this place, tending to it with reverence and wisdom passed down from our elders. But for over a century, this sacred landscape has faced desecration. Graves have been disturbed, sacred artifacts stolen, and rock art defaced. Reckless recreation and resource extraction threaten to permanently scar this land.

Our efforts to protect Bears Ears have been unyielding. From 2011 to present day, we engaged in good faith with Utah’s Public Lands Initiative, proposing a Tribal-led conservation plan rooted in Traditional Indigenous Knowledge. While these efforts did not result in lasting protections, our commitment to collaboration remains. We continue to seek durable solutions that respect the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and the long-term stewardship of this sacred place.

Historically, legislative efforts failed to protect this ancestral landscape. In response, the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition was formed in 2015, uniting five sovereign nations—the Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Hopi, and Zuni. This historic coalition put forward a powerful and visionary proposal to safeguard Bears Ears. The National Congress of American Indians formally endorsed the proposal, bringing the support of 270 Tribes from across the nation.

In 2016, President Obama honored this unprecedented effort by designating Bears Ears National Monument, a milestone in Indigenous-led conservation. However, in 2017, the monument was drastically reduced by 85%, opening the door for renewed threats to this sacred land.

Regardless of these setbacks, we remain here. Our connection to this land is not dictated by shifting political tides. True protection means ensuring that Bears Ears is no longer subject to political back-and-forth. Fixed boundaries and Tribal-informed stewardship provide certainty, not just for Tribes, but also for local businesses, land managers, and all who cherish this landscape. A healthy, well-managed Bears Ears means a thriving outdoor economy and lasting benefits for future generations.

To policymakers, we say this: we are still at the table, ready to collaborate. Polling shows that 71% of Utah voters support keeping Bears Ears protected, and nearly 9 in 10 believe Tribes should play a strong role in its management. This support transcends politics; it reflects a shared understanding of the importance of protecting sacred places for future generations.

To the public, we ask: stand with us. Advocate for Indigenous stewardship and demand lasting protections for Bears Ears. Your voice matters in this fight to preserve one of the most culturally significant and ecologically vital places on this earth.

Our ancestors walked these lands. They prayed here, they built their homes here, and they are still present in the soil and the stones. We ask that you honor the sovereignty of Indigenous Nations by supporting durable protections that ensure Bears Ears’ history remains safeguarded for future generations.

Ahxéhee’ — Thank you.

Find this published letter to the editor in this week’s (3/12/25) print edition of the San Juan Record.