National Trust for Historic Preservation: Return to home page

Yesterday, the National Trust sent a letter to President Obama on behalf of 18 national, regional, and local organizations dedicated to preserving cultural and archaeological resources, encouraging him to proclaim a Bears Ears National Monument by the end of 2016.

These anthropologists, archaeologists, tribal historic preservation officers, cultural resource professionals, preservationists, and general enthusiasts for heritage protection are part of a growing chorus of support for protection of this world-class landscape and its archaeological treasures, and we are proud to work with them in this National Treasure campaign.

You can view the letter and the full list of signers here and show your support for this effort by sending a message to President Obama today!

This summer, San Juan County submitted its proposed maps to Congressman Bishop and Chaffetz showing areas to be protected and areas to be developed as an energy zone. The congressmen have reported that they are still working on developing a Public Lands Bill for eastern Utah that could be ready very soon. We continue to seek out opportunities to weigh in as the Public Lands Initiative bill language is developed with the hope that the bill will promote more preservation of important cultural sites.

We are pleased to share an “Assessment of Heritage Tourism Potential for San Juan County, Utah” which analyzes the oppportunities and issues related to heritage tourism in the area and makes recommendations for how to capitalize on the many heritage tourism assets offered in the county from numerous Ancestral Puebloan sites found on BLM lands, to the Mormon Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, to Hovenweep National Monument.

Representatives from the Hopi, Hualapai and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, and the Pueblos of Zuni and Cochiti joined members of the Navajo Nation and preservation and conservation groups, including the National Trust, for a weekend of discussion about the need to protect the area now dubbed "Bears Ears." Bears Ears, named for a geographic landmark that - you guessed it - looks like bears ears, encompasses much of the area in San Juan County, Utah originally proposed for protection by the National Trust and we welcome this tribal coalition effort. Participants joined in conversations about this important place, took over-flights to get a broad perspective on the landscape, and hiked into the back country to see first hand the many cultural sites worthy of permanent protection. Social activities provided the chance to get to know one another better and dialogue included how to engage other tribes and tribal governments in the effort to speak with one voice on the need to protect Bears Ears. The groups identified the need to keep meeting and to expand the Bears Ears coalition further in coming months.