Russell Begaye: “H.R. 4518 truly honors tribes and tribal sovereignty, and ensures a meaningful role for us in managing the lands.”

EPA knew that Gold King Mine was going to explode. They knew that.

This is incorrect. The Navajo Nation and the other tribes of the five-tribe Bears Ears Inter-Tribal coalition were not consulted with prior to the introduction of H.R. 4532.

H.R. 4532 retains the same failing as the Trump proclamation: it does not protect the Bears Ears landscape in a way that is meaningful and lasting.

The Navajo Nation elected leadership and our grassroots community fully supported and advocated for the original designation.