A proposal to create a national monument between Yosemite National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is receiving major pushback from the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians.
The tribe sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Tuesday formally opposing the Range of Light National Monument.
Driving the news: The Range of Light National Monument was proposed in 2022 and would transform over 1.4 million acres into a national monument.
- National monuments are areas set aside for permanent protection and can only be created by the president, unlike national parks which are created by Congress.
The big picture: In the letter, the tribe expressed a number of concerns that such a designation would have on its ancestral lands, traditional practices and modern economic opportunities.
- The tribe also fears that the Range of Light National Monument would complicate wildfire prevention efforts.
- There are already over 600,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains that are designated as wilderness areas, meaning they have extensive environmental protections. The tribe feels that further designations would be duplicative.
What they’re saying: “As the original inhabitants of this land, we hold an enduring connection to the Sierra Nevada, including the areas encompassed by the proposed monument. Our history, culture, and way of life are deeply intertwined with these lands,” said Chairwoman Tracey Hopkins. “Yet, this proposal has moved forward without any meaningful tribal consultation, a fundamental process required by federal law and policy. Our letter to President Biden makes clear, this cannot proceed without tribal voices at the table.”
- Vice-Chairmann Melvin Espe also pushed back on the lack of consultation from the federal government.
- “Consultation is not just a legal requirement; it is a cornerstone of the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribal Nations,” Espe said. “Our letter underscores that the Antiquities Act must not be used to disregard tribal voices and undermine sovereignty.”
Read the letter:
