My first backpacking trip in south-central Utah at age 14 was a defining moment.
Some earth science teachers took my classmates and me to San Rafael Swell for hands-on learning. A fossilized dinosaur print, ancient sandstone layers, and the body of a decomposing wild horse ignited my curious teenage mind. The most memorable image from that trip, however, is a crimson petroglyph of horned beings with wings.
This image, and subsequent encounters with archaeology, led to a fascination with the field, ultimately motivating me to pursue a PhD at the University of Arizona. Archaeology allows me to practice the scientific field work that I love. In addition, it provides the opportunity for me to study my ancestors through the things they left behind. Importantly, archaeology enables me to be an advocate for the protection of sites with both cultural and scientific value.
The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the President the authority to protect historic and scientific objects through the declaration of national monuments.
Americans across the country are calling for national monument or conservation area designation of Bears Ears. This 1.9 million acre area is located 150 miles south of San Rafael Swell. Wild desert landscapes, ancient Indian ruins, and the spirits of many tribes’ ancestors reside in this breath-taking space.
Bears Ears holds immense value to me as an Indigenous archaeologist and part-Utahn.
As an Ojibwe woman, these sites with kivas, cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and more hold cultural value. I am not a member of one of the 25 tribal nations supporting the protection of Bears Ears. Yet I recognize the sacredness of these lands because of ancestral and contemporary ties to the land that fellow Indigenous peoples hold. When Bears Ears is threatened, tribal members’ ability to conduct ceremonies, collect medicinal plants, and practice healing rituals is at risk. In order to continue our way of life, our traditional homelands must be preserved.
As an archaeologist, I recognize that the 100,000 archaeological sites within Bears Ears are reason enough to protect it. Without designation as a national monument or conservation area these sites face irreversible damage. Once an archaeological site is vandalized, much of its scientific value is lost.
And, because I spent much of my life in Utah, I know what makes Bears Ears worthy of conservation: the beautiful landscape, scientific wealth spread throughout, and sacredness of the land to multiple tribal nations and non-Native people alike.
With looting, off-road vehicles, and environmental degradation to this scientific- and culturally-rich area, Bears Ears will continue to be harmed. Further protection that allows collaborative management between tribal nations and federal agencies will keep this landscape safe.
It is your last year as president, Mr. President. You have the choice to protect Bears Ears by making it a national monument or national conservation area. Please, be an advocate for Native Americans, archaeologists, and others who recognize the worth of Bears Ears.
Miigwech (thank you),
Ashleigh Thompson is a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and a first year PhD student of the School of Anthropology at University of Arizona.
Image Credit: Copyright: Greg Russell/Alpenglow Images