Published in San Juan Record, 9/14/2016
Let me get this straight. As proponents of a 1.9 Million acre National Monument which promises to preserve the cultural heritage, ceremonies, and history of Native American Coalition tribes from ARIZONA, you are worried about 640 acres of said land, that would be utilized for the same purposes by another culture group?
I know you promote that the lands of the Anasazi are “sacred” and their ancestors need to be able to return, enjoy, and have shared experiences. This is the same reason why the Hole in the Rock Foundation seeks to use a tiny portion of 1.9 million acres, and they aren’t even asking the Federal government to maintain it, hire rangers to patrol, or go more in debt to do so. I know you would be welcome to continue your hikes, even when it becomes “privatized.” HITR knows you wouldn’t vandalize it or desecrate it, though it would have to be scheduled, just as it will be, should this vast area becomes a National Monument.
The SITLA lands near Bluff are going up for bid. You should hope and pray it is HITR that gets the bid, as they are notorious for turning the other cheek, biting their tongues, and working hard to be good neighbors. That might not be the case with other bidders. Who knows, it may be some big investor, hoping to capitalize on the hordes of tourists that a National Monument will bring. That’s what you should be concerned about.
Janet Wilcox, Promoting the history and shared heritage experiences of all San Juan county culture groups
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