In a significant move to preserve one of Southern Arizona’s most culturally and ecologically vital landscapes, Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) has introduced the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act. This bill seeks to designate nearly 400,000 acres of land as the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument, ensuring the protection of a region rich in history, culture, and natural beauty.
The Great Bend of the Gila area is renowned for its dramatic cliffs, ancient lava flows, and unique desert species, as well as its deep cultural connections. At least 13 federally recognized tribes have ancestral ties to the land, which served as a crossroads for diverse peoples and cultures over millennia. The region is dotted with petroglyphs, rock art, and other archaeological treasures that offer a glimpse into the lives of the Indigenous peoples who have long cared for this landscape. To view the proposed monument, click here.
“The Great Bend of the Gila is a sacred place rich with history and deeply significant to all the communities connected to it,” said Congressman Grijalva. “This legislation honors the dedication of tribes in preserving the cultural, historic, and natural heritage of this magnificent landscape.”
The proposed legislation not only aims to protect the area from destructive development and mineral extraction but also includes innovative provisions for incorporating the expertise and traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities into the management of the region. This approach draws inspiration from successful initiatives such as the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Commission and the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon Commission, further elevating tribal voices in public land management.
Support for the bill is widespread among tribes with ancestral connections to the Great Bend of the Gila. The Tohono O’odham Nation and the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, among others, have expressed their strong backing for the proposed national monument, emphasizing its importance in preserving their cultural and religious heritage.
“The Tohono O’odham Nation and other tribes have deep cultural and religious connections to the Great Bend of the Gila stretching back to time immemorial,” stated Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Verlon Jose. “This bill ensures that tribes continue to have a voice in the future of these lands and how they will be protected in the years to come.”
The legislation has also garnered support from various environmental and cultural organizations, including Archaeology Southwest, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Sierra Club, among others. These groups recognize the Great Bend of the Gila as not only a critical area for conservation but also a site of immense cultural value.
With the introduction of this bill, Congressman Grijalva and his colleagues aim to ensure that the Great Bend of the Gila remains a protected and cherished landscape for future generations, while also honoring the deep cultural connections that Indigenous communities maintain with this land. The establishment of the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument, would be a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to preserve Arizona’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
