FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2023
Contact: Will Pregman, wpregman@battlebornprogress.org, 702.752.0656
Nevada Monument Coalition Eagerly Anticipates Pres. Biden Designation Ceremony
NEVADA – In response to news that President Joe Biden will visit Nevada to designate Avi Kwa Ame to be Nevada’s next national monument, the Honor Avi Kwa Ame coalition issued the following statement:
“Since President Biden‘s announcement at the Tribal Nations Summit, we have been eager to see the administration follow through and issue an official designation of this sacred land. We cannot wait to welcome the President to Nevada for this historic action that will safeguard nearly 450,000 acres in southern Nevada bearing great cultural, ecological, and economic significance to our state. Tribal leaders and members, monument supporters, and the general public made their voices heard in unanimous support of this proposal and the need to safeguard these resources for future generations. Supporters of Avi Kwa Ame have also gathered over 110,000 petition signatures and counting in support of the designation. Yuman-speaking Tribes believe the mountain is the spiritual birthplace of the tribes – the place where ancient ancestors emerged into this world. Honoring their request is something that our coalition stands behind 100 percent.
We’re thankful for the work of Congresswoman Dina Titus, who sponsored legislation in the House urging this protection. We also thank the rest of southern Nevada’s congressional delegation for vocalizing their support leading up to this designation. We are appreciative of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s willingness to meet with tribal leaders and our coalition to get this done, as well as the efforts of BLM Director Tracey Stone-Manning for hearing our voices during November’s public meeting. Finally, we thank President Biden for taking action to protect this land as a new national monument. We are looking forward to the designation next week and celebrating this incredible milestone in the effort to protect public lands.”
About Honor Avi Kwa Ame: A coalition of tribes, local Searchlight, Boulder City and Laughlin residents, the Nevada Legislature, conservation groups, recreation interests, and others are working to establish the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument to permanently protect these treasured lands. Avi Kwa Ame is the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain and the surrounding landscape. The mountain, located on the eastern boundary of the proposed monument, and the surrounding landscape are sacred to twelve Native American tribes.
For a full list of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument supporters, click here.
About Avi Kwa Ame (Pronunciation: Ah-VEE kwa-meh): Sacred to 12 tribes, the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is at the center of Yuman creation stories and spiritual ideology and deserves permanent protection. Located between the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Nevada/California border, Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain, could be Nevada’s 4th national monument. Covering nearly 450,000 acres in southwestern Nevada, it is rich in both history and beauty. The proposed national monument includes petroglyphs; historic mining- and pioneer-era artifacts; rare and threatened wildlife such as the Mojave Desert tortoise and desert bighorn sheep.
To learn more, visit www.honoravikwaame.org. Follow along on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
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