The coalition of Tribal leaders, conservation groups, business voices, and recreationists says it’s time to Honor Avi Kwa Ame
LAUGHLIN, Nevada — Today, nearly 300 Avi Kwa Ame supporters attended a community meeting hosted by the Bureau of Land Management to discuss the management of the region’s public lands, including a proposal to designate nearly 450,000 acres as a new national monument in southern Nevada.
The diverse coalition of supporters passionately voiced the significance of designating Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, commenting on its natural, cultural, economic, and scientific value. BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Laura Daniel-Davis listened to comments and participated in the meeting as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to support locally-led efforts across the country to conserve essential places.
Nevada Conservation League Avi Kwa Ame Campaign Manager Craig Bakerjian released the following statement:
“Today’s community meeting presented us with the meaningful opportunity to demonstrate to the Bureau of Land Management the important role the Avi Kwa Ame landscape plays in the protection of sacred sites, preservation of ecological resources, strengthening of our economy, and the resilience of our climate.
“Avi Kwa Ame is culturally relevant to 12 Native American tribes, and considered sacred to 10-Yuman speaking tribes, while also home to some of the most stunning, biologically diverse land that is a habitat to the endangered desert tortoise, desert bighorn sheep, and some of the oldest, largest Joshua trees on the planet. By designating Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, we can protect our most ecologically important and culturally significant landscapes in a way that honors the visions of Indigenous communities for the stewardship of these resources.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Bureau of Land Management staff, Director Tracy Stone-Manning, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Laura Daniel-Davis for hosting and participating in today’s listening session in Laughlin, Nevada — one of the many communities whose economy stands to benefit from the establishment of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument.”
“Today’s listening session, which followed Interior Secretary Haaland’s visit to Avi Kwa Ame in September, builds on the momentum from our coalition of tribal governments, elected officials, and local advocates who have been working to establish Nevada’s next national monument, and leaves us optimistic for the future. We hope today’s comments prove to be conducive to the designation efforts and we will continue to work with our federal leaders to advance the protection of Avi Kwa Ame.”
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