Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition

?? New Bears Ears Bulletin: New Polling Confirms Overwhelming Support for Bears Ears and Tribal-Led Conservation Across Utah and the Mountain West, voters overwhelmingly support protecting Bears Ears and ensuring Tribal leadership in public lands management. Recent polling reveals that bipartisan majorities back conservation efforts and oppose extractive development on protected lands. ?? Key Findings: - 71% of Utah voters support preserving Bears Ears - 89% say Tribes should have a strong role in land management - 80% (polled in Dec. 2024) believed the new administration should uphold the Bears Ears agreement—referring to the administration now in office. This is a powerful reminder that the fight to protect Bears Ears is not partisan; it’s about honoring our shared responsibility to safeguard these sacred lands for future generations. Read more in our latest blog post at the link in the comments! ??: Tim Peterson + LightHawk

?? SAVE THE DATE! ?? Join us in the Pueblo of Zuni! The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition invites you to a community gathering at the Zuni Wellness Center to hear important updates on the finalized Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan. Hear directly from the Coalition about how the Zuni Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and Ouray are working together to protect the ancestral lands of Bears Ears. ??? FREE LUNCH provided by Taste of Poz! ?? Event Details: ?? Lunch with the Bears Ears Coalition ?? March 19 | 2:00–5:00 PM MT ?? Zuni Wellness Center | 31 Pinion St, Zuni, NM 87327 This event is open to the public and we hope to see you there!

Bears Ears is more than a place, it’s a living cultural landscape, a testament to Tribal resilience, and a commitment to responsible stewardship. The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition remains dedicated to protecting and managing this sacred land for future generations. But ensuring durable protections requires ongoing Tribal leadership, collaboration, and engagement. With just 2 days left in our winter campaign, your support directly strengthens Tribal-informed stewardship, public education, and long-term conservation efforts. Now is the time to stand with the Tribes and help ensure that Bears Ears remains protected, accessible, and well-managed for generations to come. Donate today to support this critical work. To donate, visit our website or check the link in the comments. #ProtectBearsEars #IndigenousStewardship ??: Tim Peterson

The Bears Ears Commission remains committed to collaborative management and long-term cooperation with state and federal partners. In an interview with the Santa Fe New Mexican, Zuni Tribe Head Councilman, and Bears Ears Commission Co-Chair, Anthony Sanchez Jr. highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge in monument management and the need for Tribal voices in any review process. While progress has been made, concerns about potential monument reductions remain. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dBvmHvfF

Today is International Women’s Day, and we’re celebrating the women who lead with strength, protect with wisdom, and inspire with resilience. Across the Bears Ears movement, and among the five Tribes — Hopi, Navajo, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Ute Mountain Ute, and Zuni — women stand at the forefront of advocacy, stewardship, and cultural and resource preservation. Their voices shape policies, their hands safeguard the land, and their hearts carry forward the stories and traditions that sustain Bears Ears for future generations. For centuries, Indigenous women have been the defenders of sacred landscapes, the keepers of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge, and the driving force behind movements for sovereignty, sustainability, and the well-being of their communities. Their leadership is a testament to the power of perseverance and the deep, enduring relationship between people and the land. Today, we honor their legacy, their sacrifices, and their unwavering dedication to protecting Bears Ears and all ancestral landscapes. Their efforts not only preserve their heritage but also inspire future generations to stand in defense of the land, water, and history. With immense gratitude, we recognize their wisdom, leadership, and lasting impact. Thank you to the women, past, present, and future, who protect Bears Ears and ensure its legacy endures for generations to come. Your strength lights the way. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we share about the women who have played and continue to play key roles in the Bears Ears movement. Instead of only looking back, which is equally important, we are highlighting the women who are making history right now through their work for Bears Ears. Join us in honoring their voices and their impact throughout the rest of Women’s History Month. Thank you - Ahéhee' - Kwakwhay - Askwali - Elahkwa - Tog'oiak'

Utahns across political lines show strong support for Bears Ears National Monument. 71% of voters, including 61% of Republicans, favor its preservation. Outdoor recreation, tourism, and local businesses thrive when public lands like Bears Ears are responsibly managed. The Bears Ears Commission is committed to collaborating with federal and Utah leaders to ensure enduring protections. ??: (c) Tim Peterson

This Women’s History Month, we honor the Indigenous women who have led, protected, and strengthened their communities; past and present. We recognize the matriarchs, warriors, and knowledge keepers who have fought for rights, preserved culture, defended the land, and ensured the survival of future generations. Indigenous women have always been at the forefront of advocacy, from securing sovereignty to protecting sacred places like Bears Ears. Their leadership has preserved cultural heritage, languages, and natural resources for generations. Yet, they have also faced and resisted systemic barriers designed to strip them of their rights and autonomy. They were denied voting rights, subjected to forced sterilization, and forcibly separated from their land and families. Children were taken from their mothers and sent to boarding schools intended to erase their identities. Many were also removed through adoption and foster care programs, particularly during the Indian Adoption Era (1950s-1970s), when thousands were placed with non-Native families, severing them from their culture and communities. Despite these injustices, Native women continue to fight for reproductive justice, protections for missing and murdered Indigenous women, and equitable access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Through rematriation, they are reclaiming governance, restoring balance, and strengthening the connection between land, language, and community. Their dedication ensures that future generations inherit not just the land but also the rights, knowledge, and teachings of their ancestors. This month, we celebrate the power, resilience, and unwavering commitment of Indigenous women to justice. Women's voices matter, women's work is invaluable, and their impact is immeasurable.

Join the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition for our first-ever Bears Ears Community Summit! This gathering is an opportunity to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of Bears Ears. ?? Date: February 27 | ? Time: 5:30-7:30 PM (AZ Time) ?? Location: Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ ??? Catering: Enjoy stew & frybread from Emerson Fry Bread. What to Expect: —> Updates from the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition on the newly finalized Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP). Learn how this plan will guide the future of Bears Ears and what it means for Tribal stewardship, conservation, and access. —> Special presentations from our partners Haul No!, Diné C.A.R.E., and 100 Years Of Silence, who will share powerful insights on environmental justice, cultural histories, and ongoing efforts to protect sacred landscapes. —> Community, culture, and conversation; a chance to gather, ask questions, and engage in critical dialogue. While discussions are being held, please enjoy a meal with us featuring stew and frybread from Emerson Fry Bread, because nothing good happens on an empty stomach! Mark your calendar & spread the word! We can’t wait to see you there.

Protecting Bears Ears ensures lasting protection for our cultural heritage and sacred belongings, it isn’t about partisan politics. The Bears Ears Commission remains committed to working with federal and Utah leadership in a spirit of cooperation, not opposition. Support for national monuments spans all political affiliations: 65% of Republicans, 82% of Independents, and 98% of Democrats favor protection. Nearly 9 in 10 Utah voters agree Tribes should have a strong role in managing their ancestral lands. Durable protections benefit all Utahns by strengthening local economies, supporting outdoor recreation, and honoring our shared history. #ProtectBearsEars ?? Tim Peterson

Languages carry the prayers of our ancestors and the strength of our cultures. Today we’re honoring International Mother Language Day, a reminder that despite centuries of assimilation efforts, Indigenous languages persist, evolve, and thrive across colonial borders. More than 270 Indigenous languages are still spoken across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—a testament to resilience. Protecting language goes hand in hand with protecting land. When sacred landscapes are safeguarded, so are the stories, knowledge, and languages woven into them. Support the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition in our mission to protect ancestral homelands, culture, and traditions. “At Bears Ears we can hear the voices of our ancestors in every canyon and on every mesa top.” - Malcolm Lehi, Ute Mountain Ute Councilmember and Bears Ears Commissioner Donate today to ensure that future generations can speak, pray, and live in the languages of their ancestors. Find the link in our bio! Kwakwhay - Askwali (Hopi, masc., fem.) - Tog'oiak' (Ute) - Elahkwa (Zuni) - Ahéhee' (Diné) ??: Tim Peterson