S4E18: Resilience & Resistance in Navajo Country

Episode Summary: In this episode of 90 Miles from Needles, host Chris Clarke looks into the intricate issues surrounding Bears Ears National Monument with guest Davina Smith, a Diné activist and Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition. The episode's introduction grapples with the political turmoil surrounding federal land designations and their impact on indigenous rights and environmental conservation. Clarke and Smith navigate through the consequences of political maneuvers by successive U.S. administrations, especially concerning the Bears Ears National Monument's existence and preservation. Throughout the episode, Smith discusses the historical and cultural significance of Bears Ears for the Dine people and other Native American tribes, underscoring its critical importance beyond mere land but as a living museum and spiritual sanctuary. Smith passionately depicts current threats from mining interests and unauthorized land use and calls for more robust public understanding and participation in protecting these sacred lands. As listeners are taken through Smith's perspective as an advocate and a former state political candidate, they are encouraged to engage actively in desert protection initiatives.

Key Takeaways:

Historical Significance of Bears Ears:
Bears Ears is regarded by the Diné as a sacred cultural landscape with deep historical ties dating back to their ancestors, serving as a refuge and resource area.

Current Threats to Bears Ears:
The ongoing risk from mining activities and political opposition threatens the preservation efforts, reflecting past attempts to reduce and undermine land protections.

Advocacy and Public Education: 
Emphasizing the importance of educating oneself about Bears Ears and its management plan as a means to participate proactively in conservation efforts.

Political Dynamics:
The Trump administration’s rollback of national monument protections is a recurring theme, revealing the broader political attacks on federal lands.

Community Collaboration:
Exploring avenues for economic growth respecting cultural lands, including tourism as a potential path, highlighting the complexity of local collaboration efforts.

Notable Quotes:
"It's about educating yourself, hearing from those that have worked in this work of protecting Bears Ears." 
"Bears Ears is a living environment, and that's why I go there…it's still communicating with Mother Earth."
"I'm here to be a part of that voice because I was shared from my mother, my grandmother, and the grandmothers before them." 
"Educating people in these areas of Bears Ears…it's about educating these areas, but educating yourself as an individual." 

Resources: Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition: To explore the coalition's work and understand the management plans. https://www.bearsearscoalition.org/
Katherine Smith on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Smith_(Navajo_activist)
Chris article on the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute: https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/magazine/entry/clear_skies_in_the_desert

To truly grasp the depth of these issues and support meaningful action, listen to the full episode. Stay up-to-date with 90 Miles from Needles for further insights into the ongoing challenges faced by desert ecosystems and indigenous communities.

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