Photo of people posing in front of a sign for the "Bears Ears National Monument"

Shutterstock.com (background); ©Tim Peterson (all other images) 

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Protecting Our Land

For the first time, Tribal Nations will help manage a national monument.

November 21, 2022
By Karen Grimaldos

As You Read, Think About: Why is Bears Ears important to many Native peoples?

©Tim Peterson

Carleton Bowekaty (third from right)

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. To the nearly 20,000 Native American people who live nearby, Bears Ears is more than a tourist attraction. It was once the home of their ancestors. 

Now five Tribal Nations will work together to help protect the land. In June, they signed an agreement with the U.S. government to co-manage Bears Ears.  

“We are being invited back to our homelands to help repair them,” says Carleton Bowekaty. He’s the lieutenant governor of the Pueblo of Zuni. That’s one of the Native groups that will help manage Bears Ears. The others are the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe, and Hopi.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Bears Ears National Monument. It’s in Utah. Bears Ears is more than a tourist attraction. It’s special to the nearly 20,000 Native American people who live nearby. It was once the home of their ancestors. 

Now five Tribal Nations will work together to protect the land. In June, they signed an agreement with the U.S. government. They will co-manage Bears Ears.  

“We are being invited back to our homelands to help repair them,” says Carleton Bowekaty. He’s the lieutenant governor of the Pueblo of Zuni. That’s one of the Native groups that will help manage Bears Ears. The others are the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe, and Hopi.

©Tim Peterson

Visitors to Bears Ears look at one of hundreds of petroglyphs—ancient images carved into rock.

Stolen Land

Indigenous, or Native, peoples have lived in what is now the U.S. for thousands of years. But in the 1600s, European settlers began pushing Indigenous peoples off their lands. This forced removal continued for hundreds of years. Native peoples in the U.S. lost about 99 percent of their land. 

That includes more than 10,000 Navajo. In the 1860s, they were removed from their homes in what is now New Mexico. During this event, known as the Long Walk, the U.S. military forced Native people to walk hundreds of miles to camps. Many Navajo escaped by hiding in canyons and mountains in Bears Ears. 

Indigenous, or Native, peoples have lived in what is now the U.S. for thousands of years. European settlers began to arrive in the 1600s. They pushed Indigenous peoples off their lands. This forced removal continued for hundreds of years. Native peoples in the U.S. lost about 99 percent of their land. 

That includes more than 10,000 Navajo. In the 1860s, they were removed from their homes. They lived in what is now New Mexico. The U.S. military forced Native people to walk hundreds of miles to camps. This event is known as the Long Walk. Many Navajo escaped. They hid in canyons and mountains in Bears Ears. 

 ©Tim Peterson 

Hundreds of years ago, Native peoples lived in cliff dwellings carved into the mountains of Bears Ears.

Protecting the Past

Bears Ears is also special to Native groups because it is an ancient burial ground. People go there to honor their ancestors. The area also has thousands of important artifacts.

Over time, parts of Bears Ears have been destroyed. Artifacts have been stolen. The Tribal Nations in the region fought for years to protect the area. In 2016, Bears Ears was named a national monument. It was the first created at the request of a group of Native nations. Now those nations will help manage the land.

“Protecting Bears Ears protects our history and connection to our ancestors,” says Bowekaty. 

Bears Ears is special to Native groups for other reasons. It is an ancient burial ground. People go there to honor their ancestors. The area also has thousands of important artifacts.

Over time, parts of Bears Ears have been destroyed. Artifacts have been stolen. The Tribal Nations in the region fought for years to protect the area. In 2016, Bears Ears was named a national monument. It was the first created at the request of a group of Native Nations. Now those groups will help manage the land.

“Protecting Bears Ears protects our history and connection to our ancestors,” says Bowekaty. 

Map It Out

Bears Ears National Monument covers nearly 1.4 million acres—more than the entire state of Delaware. Which Native nations’ tribal lands does Bears Ears border?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Map It Out

Bears Ears National Monument covers nearly 1.4 million acres—more than the entire state of Delaware. Which Native nations’ tribal lands does Bears Ears border?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Looking to the Future

Bears Ears isn’t only an important link to the past. It is also a living landscape that is key to the tribes’ current ways of life. Native peoples still visit the area to take part in healing ceremonies and celebrations. The site is home to plants used in traditional foods and medicines.

In addition to working to protect Bears Ears, tribal leaders hope to create a learning center. It would be a place where all visitors can discover why the area is so important to Native peoples. 

“We want to share our history because it adds to the fabric of our great nation,” says Bowekaty. “It also shows our strength to the younger generations of Native kids.”

Bears Ears isn’t only an important link to the past. It is also a living landscape that is key to the tribes’ current ways of life. Native peoples still visit the area. They take part in healing ceremonies and celebrations. The site is home to plants used in traditional foods and medicines.

Tribal leaders aren’t just working to protect Bears Ears. They also hope to create a learning center. It would be a place where all visitors can discover why the area is so important to Native peoples. 

“We want to share our history because it adds to the fabric of our great nation,” says Bowekaty. “It also shows our strength to the younger generations of Native kids.”

What Is a National Monument?

National monuments aren’t statues or buildings, although some contain these types of structures. They are lands and waters protected by the U.S. government. The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the president the power to name important public places national monuments (see page 8 in Presentation View for more). 

What Is a National Monument?

National monuments aren’t statues or buildings, although some contain these types of structures. They are lands and waters protected by the U.S. government. The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the president the power to name important public places national monuments (see page 8 in Presentation View for more). 

  1. Based on the photos, what are some items in Bears Ears that help Native groups feel connected to their ancestors?
  2. Share two facts you can learn from the map above.
  3. What does the author mean when she writes that Bears Ears is a “living landscape that is key to the tribes’ current ways of life”?
  1. Based on the photos, what are some items in Bears Ears that help Native groups feel connected to their ancestors?
  2. Share two facts you can learn from the map above.
  3. What does the author mean when she writes that Bears Ears is a “living landscape that is key to the tribes’ current ways of life”?
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