Arizona lawmakers are embroiled in a legal battle with three Native American tribes over the ancestral land surrounding the Grand Canyon. Last year, President Joe Biden declared the one million acres as a national monument, known as Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. The tribes – Hopi, Havasupai, and Navajo Nation – have now joined forces with the federal government to fend off Arizona’s efforts to reclaim the land.
Arizona lawmakers argue that the area is rich in natural resources like uranium and could greatly benefit the state’s economy if mining operations were allowed. They claim that the Antiquities Act, which Biden used to protect the land, does not apply to such a large plot and amounts to an overreach of presidential power.
The tribes, along with conservation organizations, are vehemently opposing the state’s lawsuit and are fighting to preserve the cultural and environmental significance of the land. They argue that the tribes have a deep connection to the area, using it for traditional practices like hunting and praying.
With the possibility of former President Donald Trump returning to office in 2025, the tribes fear that the protections put in place by Biden could be rolled back. The legal battle is expected to drag on for months, with the tribes and their supporters determined to defend their ancestral lands against exploitation. For now, the future of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni remains uncertain as the court proceedings unfold.
