Photo of people posing in front of a sign for the "Bears Ears National Monument"

Protecting Our Land

For the first time, Tribal Nations will help manage a national monument.

November 21, 2022

By Karen Grimaldos

As You Read, Think About: Why is Bears Ears important to Native peoples in the region?

Carleton Bowekaty (third from right)

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. To the nearly 20,000 Native people who live nearby, Bears Ears is more than a tourist attraction. To them, the land is sacred. For centuries, the area’s cliff tops and canyons were home to their ancestors.

Now five Tribal Nations are returning to the land. In June, they signed an agreement with the U.S. government to work together to protect Bears Ears.

“We are being invited back to our homelands to help repair them,” says Carleton Bowekaty. He’s the lieutenant governor of the Pueblo of Zuni. That’s one member of the coalition of Tribal Nations that will co-manage the area. The others are the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe, and Hopi.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Bears Ears National Monument. It’s in Utah. Nearly 20,000 Native people live near Bears Ears. To them, the area is more than a tourist attraction. The land is sacred. For centuries, the area’s cliff tops and canyons were home to their ancestors.

Now five Tribal Nations are returning to the land. In June, they signed an agreement with the U.S. government. They will work together to protect Bears Ears.

Stolen Land

Indigenous, or Native, peoples have lived in what is now the United States for thousands of years. But in the 1600s, European settlers began pushing Indigenous peoples off their lands. This forced removal continued long after the U.S. became a country. Native peoples in the U.S. lost about 99 percent of their land.

More than 10,000 Navajo were forced to leave the homeland of their ancestors. In the 1860s, the U.S. Army burned their villages and destroyed their water sources in what is now New Mexico.

During an event known as the Long Walk, the Army forced Native peoples to walk hundreds of miles. They ended up in camps that they could not leave. Many Navajo escaped the Long Walk by hiding in canyons and mountains in Bears Ears.

Indigenous peoples have lived in what is now the United States for thousands of years. Indigenous means “Native.” In the 1600s, European settlers began pushing Indigenous peoples off their lands. This forced removal continued long after the U.S. became a country. Native peoples in the U.S. lost about 99 percent of their land.

More than 10,000 Navajo were forced to leave the homeland of their ancestors. It is now what is known as New Mexico. In the 1860s, the U.S. Army burned Navajo villages. They also destroyed Navajo water sources.

The Army forced Native peoples to walk hundreds of miles. The event is known as the Long Walk, The Native peoples ended up in camps that they could not leave. Many Navajo escaped the Long Walk. They hid in canyons and mountains in Bears Ears.

Map It Out

Bears Ears National Monument covers nearly 1.4 million acres—more than the area of Delaware.

Which Tribal Nations’ lands does Bears Ears National Monument border?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Map It Out

Bears Ears National Monument covers nearly 1.4 million acres—more than the area of Delaware.

Which Tribal Nations’ lands does Bears Ears National Monument border?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Protecting the Past

That is one of many reasons the area is important to Native groups. Bears Ears is also an ancient burial ground where people go to honor their ancestors. The remains of ancient villages, along with Navajo and Ute rock paintings and carvings, are found in the area too.

Over time, many cultural sites in Bears Ears have been destroyed, and countless artifacts have been stolen. Tribal Nations nearby fought for years to protect the area. In 2016, Bears Ears was named a national monument. It was the first area granted that status at the request of Tribal Nations. Now they’re getting the chance to help manage the land.

“Protecting Bears Ears protects our history and connection to our ancestors,” says Bowekaty.

That is one of many reasons the area is important to Native groups. Bears Ears is also an ancient burial ground. People go there to honor their ancestors. The remains of ancient villages are found in the area too. So are many Navajo and Ute rock paintings and carvings.

Over time, many cultural sites in Bears Ears have been destroyed. Countless artifacts have also been stolen. Tribal Nations nearby fought for years to protect the area. In 2016, Bears Ears was named a national monument. It was the first area granted that status at the request of Tribal Nations. Now they’re getting the chance to help manage the land.

“Protecting Bears Ears protects our history and connection to our ancestors,” says Bowekaty.

Looking to the Future

Bears Ears isn’t only a sacred link to the past. It is also a living landscape that is key to the tribes’ current ways of life. Native people visit the area to take part in celebrations and healing ceremonies. They also use plants from the site in traditional foods and medicines.

In addition to working to protect Bears Ears, tribal leaders hope to create a learning center. It would be a place where visitors can discover why the area is so important to Native peoples.

“We want to share our history because it adds to the fabric of our great nation,” says Bowekaty. “It also shows our strength to younger generations.”

Tribal leaders aren’t just working to protect Bears Ears. They also hope to create a learning center. It would be a place where visitors can discover why the area is so important to Native peoples.

“We want to share our history because it adds to the fabric of our great nation,” says Bowekaty. “It also shows our strength to younger generations.”

What Is a National Monument?

You might think of a monument as a building or statue, like the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. But it can also be an area of land or water that is protected by the U.S. government. The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the president the power to name important public areas as national monuments. Today, there are more than 140 of them.