Bears Ears land seizure another broken promise to Utah’s Native tribes

"It began as an agenda item on the Conservation Lands Foundation land takeover list in 2014 and they used financial allies until they had their way. Native people were simply a means to an end. For Utah Natives who fought against the Bears Ears designation, monuments represent broken promises made to a long line of Native people living on broken lands. The Navajo know what it's like to live without electricity or running water."

Dear President Trump,

I pray you will listen to concerns that Utah and other western states have regarding the absconding of land via the Antiquities Act.  When a single president can confiscate 553 Million acres while local citizens in hundreds of rural communities suffer environmental terrorism, there is something wrong with the federal government, something wrong with this 1906 legislation, and something terribly wrong about the power of NGOs who seem to have all the cards.  It’s time that you show them the “Trump” card and rescind those recent designations. 

Senate Hearing in Blanding, San Juan High School July 27, 2016 

If the Bears Ears Monument were initiated by Utah Tribes who live here, that might be a different story, but the Conservation Lands Foundation from Durango, Colorado was the initiator, orchestrater, planner and financial broker in this real estate deal.  They used neighboring tribes to form a pro-monument coalition, offering financial benefits and promising power to “co-manage” the monument.  It began as an agenda item on the CLF land takeover list in 2014 and they used financial allies until they had their way. Native people were simply a means to an end. 

For Utah Natives who fought against the Bears Ears designation, monuments represent broken promises made to a long line of Native people, living on broken lands. The Navajo know what it's like to live without electricity or running water. There are greater needs than locking up land and locking out jobs. But the Environazis don’t care about this, and the Environmental Hunger Games are moving on to capture Cascade-Siskiyou Monument in Oregon, Coastal areas in California, and over 6 million acres in Alaska.  These lands are not being secured for the benefit of the United States or its people. The greed of the ultra-Green is unbelievable and will only benefit the countries to whom we are indebted to the tune of some $20 trillion. We support our Utah congressional leaders and we supported you in the last election.  Please seek to rescind the designations, and to repeal or modify substantially the Antiquities Act.  Yes, it’s time for a change, and time to make America Great Again. 

--Janet Wilcox 

Watch video and read the Sutherland report on:   Collusion of Big Money, Out of State Tribal Leaders, and Environmental Groups

"Advocates also claim that locals seek a designation because of the economic prosperity it would bring. San Juan County residents know better. Major parts of one national park, three national monuments, and a national recreation area already exist in San Juan County. But even with these “protected” lands, the county has the lowest income per person and lowest median family income in the state. It also ranks among the most economically depressed in the entire country. Locals have seen firsthand that locking up multiple-use lands has prevented prosperity, and they expect to suffer even more under the burden of yet another national monument. They understand that a strong economy is a diverse one – relying on a host of activities to drive it – and that a national monument like the Bears Ears will reduce their economic diversity and deepen their financial woes by forcing them to be more dependent on tourism."