The future of the Grand Canyon is threatened

The Grand Canyon is an extraordinary natural wonder. It is a mile deep, almost 18 miles wide at certain points, and etches across the land over 217 miles. The towering rock formations, shaped by the Colorado River over centuries, create a stunning display of colors that resemble a magnificent rainbow from top to bottom, changing throughout the day.

Beyond its visual magnificence, the Grand Canyon plays a vital role in the environment and the communities it supports. The Colorado River, flowing through its depths, is a powerful force, carrying half a million tons of silt daily and providing clean water to seven states, from Wyoming to California.

Unfortunately, the future of the Grand Canyon and the communities that rely on it is currently threatened.

Despite a 20-year uranium mining moratorium established in 2012, there are recent indications that the inactive uranium mines outside Grand Canyon National Park could see renewed activity due to proposals by a Canadian company called Energy Fuels Inc. This is driven by the demand for domestic rare earth minerals, risking the pristine lands of the canyon and the health of its inhabitants.

In response to this imminent danger, the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, supported by Congressman Raúl Grijalva and other members of Congress, is urgently calling on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish a new national monument.

They are proposing the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument, covering 1.1 million acres of land. This monument would protect culturally and archaeologically significant treasures and safeguard the Colorado River from toxic uranium mining– protecting the drinking water of over 40 million people.

Sign our petition now and publicly support a national monument to preserve the Grand Canyon!

SIGN THE PETITION

The history of uranium mining in the area has left behind a toxic legacy on the land and has severely impacted local Tribal communities. Shockingly, nearly one in five uranium mines are located within six miles of a Native American reservation, with over three-quarters of them situated within 50 miles of a reservation. The Navajo Nation alone has dealt with over 1,000 uranium mines, with over 500 abandoned and desperately needing cleanup. We cannot allow multinational mining companies driven solely by profit to tarnish the legacy of the Grand Canyon.

We must rally together and call upon President Biden to take decisive action. By designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument, he will not only protect sacred lands and uphold the sovereign treaty rights of Indigenous communities but also safeguard the water supply that serves 40 million people and supports 1.8 million acres of agricultural land.

Sign the petition now and urge President Biden to take immediate action to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.

Your support makes a big difference in preserving this iconic natural wonder and protecting Indigenous communities.

More soon,

Rob