Follow these quotes (and hopes) to their banal but predictable conclusion…
“Under the framework set forth in the Bears Ears National Monument proposal, five Tribes – Hopi, Ute Mountain Ute, Navajo, Uintah Ouray Ute, and Zuni – would co-manage Bears Ears to ensure cultural sites and uses are honored and upheld.”
Utah Diné Bikéyah July 9, 2016
http://utahdinebikeyah.org/obama-administration-public-hea…/
“Through #BearsEars Nat’l Monument, 5 regional Tribes with deep ties to the area will actively co-manage these lands side-by-side with federal agencies. NOW THAT’S HONORING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.”
Utah Diné Bikéyah September 14, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/utahdinebikeyah/photos/pb.766705963366936.-2207520000.1473981173./1116920988345430/?type=3&theater
“Honoring tribal expertise and traditional and historical knowledge, a Bears Ears Commission has been created that will enable tribes to share information and advice with federal land managers. While tribal input will be carefully and fully considered during such planning and management, the BLM and USFS retain ultimate authority over the monument.”
BLM Press release, Q & A… December 28, 2016
https://www.blm.gov/…/do…/files/BE%20QA%20Fast%20Facts_0.pdf
BOTTOM LINE: Bears Ears National Monument is NOT going to be “actively co-managed” by the Five Tribes. “Ultimate authority” remains with the federal Government.
One Response
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Even in the Trump era, saying no to the Indians will be hard; that’s what monument supporters are counting on. I’m concerned by what appears to be a lack of backbone by the Utah Republicans, driven by the apparent political reality of urban Utahns typically naïve desire for a playground. Obama used the PLI’s maps to justify his monument boundaries. Will the Utah R’s play their hand as strongly as possible? Will they nullify it by redrawing the boundaries or will they completely zero-out all money in the BLM’s budget for the monument? The inter-tribal coalition will expect a line item in the budget and the R’s could refuse that too. But will they have the guts? If they don’t, the coalition of tribes could effectively wield a veto over land management, though they wouldn’t have the power to initiate anything either. Do the R’s want to see pure stalemate over management? If they don’t, they’ll need some backbone. Much drama to come I think…