Trump’s Monument Cuts Spark Outrage Among Utah’s Indigenous Tribes

Trump’s Monument Reductions Spark Outcry from Indigenous Groups

In a move that has sparked significant backlash, President Trump announced a reduction in the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by nearly 3 million acres. The decision, supported by Utah’s congressional delegation, was justified on grounds of promoting local control and the potential for mineral extraction.

The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, among other Indigenous nations, view these areas as vital cultural and ecological sites within their ancestral lands. KNAU’s Chris Clements engaged in a conversation with Keitti Jakes, the environmental program coordinator for the tribe, who also represents them in the Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition.

CHRIS CLEMENTS: What was your first reaction when you heard the news?

KEITTI JAKES: Our first reaction probably was deep disappointment. He didn’t just slash it by a little bit. He went for the jugular on this one, and he only left [about] 180,000 acres, and so it was just frustrating.

Jakes elaborated on the tribe’s historical connection to the Grand Staircase, citing a creation story that ties their people to the region. “We have been traveling back and forth from the Kaiparowits Plateau and to Grand Canyon,” Jakes explained, noting the numerous cultural and religious sites present in the area.

Concerns about the preservation of these sites are paramount. “When you shrink areas, it really cuts off connection for tribal members,” Jakes said, highlighting the disruption to cultural practices and community identity.

The Paiute Tribe reportedly was not consulted prior to the decision to reduce the monument sizes. Jakes expressed frustration at the lack of dialogue, stating, “The frustration is tribal concerns are continuing to be overlooked, and we’re constantly having to defend our ancestral homelands.”

In response to Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s remark that national monuments should be limited to the smallest area needed to protect antiquities, Jakes countered that such an approach undermines the comprehensive protection the Antiquities Act was meant to provide. “Protecting only fragments of that landscape fails to protect the whole,” Jakes argued.

Amidst these developments, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah is considering legal action. The tribe is exploring litigation possibilities with the Native American Rights Fund as part of the Grand Staircase Inter-Tribal Coalition’s efforts.