President Joe Biden flew to Los Angeles on Monday, a day before heading to the Coachella Valley to announce the creation of a national monument south of Joshua Tree National Park.
Mr. Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Air Force One from New Orleans at 9:32 p.m. Monday, expressing their feelings of “affected” by the New Year’s Bourbon Street terrorist attack that killed 15 people. I met with the families and local residents of the area. The White House said there were deaths and dozens more injured.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Biden is preparing to sign a proclamation establishing Chuckwalla National Monument south of Joshua Tree National Park and making drilling, mining and other energy and industrial-related activities in the area illegal. It was reported that they were doing so. The newspaper reported that Biden would make a similar declaration for land around Satitra National Monument in Northern California.
Tribal leaders from Southern California, who had previously advocated in Washington, D.C., for Mr. Biden to issue such a designation, in October also called the Iviatim, Nuu, Pipa Aha Makabu, Kwatsan and Malayam tribes. He spoke of his desire to protect known indigenous homelands. Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave (CRIT Mojave), Quechan, and Serrano countries.
“Since time immemorial, we have called the lands of the Chuckwalla National Monument Site home,” said Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Secretary Altrena Santillanes. “These lands contain thousands of cultural sites and objects of great significance to the history and identity of the Cahuilla Indians of the Tres Martinez Desert.”
Tribal leaders proposed a monument that would encompass about 627,000 acres of public land and protect an additional 17,000 acres in the Eagle Mountains.
Advocates say the bill, in addition to further recognizing tribal sovereignty and allowing tribes new ways to co-manage their homelands, would also “incorporate additional resources on their lands, such as multi-use trail systems and sacred sites established by Native American tribes.” We will also protect the important heritage values associated with it.” with federal agencies.
They will improve equity of access to natural parts of the eastern Coachella Valley and surrounding areas, such as the Painted Canyon Trail in Mecca and the Bradshaw Trail in southeastern Riverside County, by adding protections for public lands. said that it will increase.
As outlined, potential monuments have spiritual significance and include natural resources that support multiple Indigenous groups.
The Protect Chuckwalla group said the proposal complements the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, which is under development. The monument’s boundaries were drawn to avoid interfering with areas that DRECP has focused on as “suitable for renewable energy development,” and DRECP has designated some of the eastern Coachella Valley land needed for biological protection. It was recognized that it was.
“As the original custodians of these lands, we have a mission to preserve the cultural, natural and spiritual values handed down by our ancestors,” said David Harper of the Mojave Elders of the Colorado River Indian Tribe. said. “Therefore, it is a sacred duty and honor to care for these lands.”
Last year, at least 20 members of California’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Ind., and Sens. Alex Padilla and LaFonza Butler, called for the following presidential proclamation to be issued:
The Antiquities Act of 1906 officially recognized it as a national monument.
The idea also has support from tribal leaders and representatives, at least eight city governments in the Coachella Valley, and more than 225 local businesses and institutions.
“For the Kechan Indian Tribal Council, Fort Yuma, the National Monument status of this land is a symbol of the way of life, culture, stories and teachings that connect us to our past, present and future,” said Donald Medart Jr. of the Fort Yuma Kechan Indian Tribal Council. It means preserving.”
“We are asking President Biden to help us continue to protect and share indefinitely the beauty of these places that our ancestors entrusted to us to steward.”
More information about the Chuckwalla National Monument Establishment Campaign is available online.
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