Beyond Bears Ears
10-23-16
There have been lots of significant events in the Bears Ears
Monument fight the past few weeks.
--Last week I emailed you the full 85 page advisory document
relative to illegalities should a
designation be implemented. I hope
you’ve read and shared it. This should
be a game changer. If you didn’t get it, let me know.
-- Mail in ballots are out now. Please study all candidates carefully before
you vote. Hopefully Trump’s Gettysburg platform will be a game changer, if
you’re sitting on the fence. With
Supreme Court Judges pending, we can’t afford to gamble on independent “wanna
be’s”.
--The Controversial State land sales involving 391 acres of
State School Trust lands, turned out quite differently than any of us
expected. Hole in the Rock Foundation
was outbid, once it passed $300,000. So
it was between the Environmental Conservancy group and Lyman Family farms. The conservancy group dropped out at
$485,000, and LFF got it for $500,000.
Definitely a dark horse winner, but one with whom we hope the Hole in
the Rock Foundation will be able to work. Read News
Story
-- The fall out the Conservation Lands Foundation worried
about in 2013, is starting to happen. CLF
had discussed what would happen if the native collation they created started
disagreeing with the CLF’s “manipulative” plans. Secretary Jewell has had to contend with
Willie Grey Eyes several times already, as he feels the Navajo Tribe needs even
a stronger say in “managing” a new National Monument. Related
News Story
--Two UTE members of the Pro-Monument Coalition were not
re-elected (Read
Story) to council positions, so now
they don’t really represent the Utes. Will CLF continue to pay them as
“consultants?
--Maybe the articles we’ve been sending over to SW Utah,
have helped. It is also good to comment
on line when opposing views are published.
Our voices need to be heard, but don’t sink to the level of nastiness
you’ll find there. Think of Blue
Mountain, and take the high road. https://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/2016/10/national-trust-of-historic-preservation.html
--Steve
Lovell and Adell recently wrote a good article about the history of scouting on
Blue Mountain, which would surely be in jeopardy if a Monument is
designated. Here’s a short segment of
it, with the full essay is attached.
“Public
land is a MUST for operating this scouting program. But it continues to
be swallowed up by National Parks and Monuments which are not scout
friendly. Scouts are young boys who are learning how to conduct
themselves in public places; they are often rowdy and not pleasant to be
around. It is a time in their lives that they make mistakes and need
correction. Many of these boys come from dysfunctional families.
Scouting is the only place that some of them learn the valuable lessons of how
to behave in public. It is an excellent time for a trained adult role
model to have the opportunity to make positive changes in a young man’s life
that will prevent him from becoming a juvenile delinquent. Too many young
men die in violent crimes every day. Scouting helps prevent such tragedies.
During an era when
gang violence, and rebellion against civil authority runs rampant, we are
operating a program that teaches the exact opposite behavior to 88,435 boys. Environmental groups
are declaring they want to save the land for future generations. To a
twelve-year-old boy the future is now. They need outdoor experiences NOW if
they are going to learn to be the kind of citizens that we can enjoy living
with in the future. Investing in Scouting has lifelong benefits.” No one knows better that these two how
valuable our mountain is to the scouting program.
 |
| Byron Clarke and Shawn Begay two of the Blue Mt. Dine' Leaders |
--With all that in mind, I encourage you to not give
up. Keep stirring the pot, get our
message out to the world. Think big,
have faith, pray often, and doors will open. Thank you for your help. (Please remember Shawn Begay in your
prayers. He is one of our freedom
fighters, who is suffering from severe arthritis; he’s not even 40.)
--Also, please write your family’s story related to the land
of San Juan, so it can be uploaded to show the world your involvement and
stewardship of this place we call San Juan.
View others stories at http://www.savebearsears.com/ Call me if you have questions. 678-2851
--I try to keep a running log of current articles and news
directly related to the Bears Ears issues.
Read updates on: https://beyondthebears.blogspot.com
