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SALT LAKE CITY — The contentious fight over a new monument designation in Utah is picking up more momentum, evidenced Tuesday with the release of a Sutherland Institute video showcasing Navajo tribal members opposed to the proposed Bears Ears National Monument.
A press conference was also held on the front steps of the Utah State Capitol by Bears Ears opponents, one day before Utah lawmakers meet in a special session to consider adoption of a resolution voicing that opposition.
Several Utah Navajo chapter leaders and representatives spoke out adamantly against the proposed 1.9 million-acre monument designation for the Bears Ears area in San Juan County, saying it would threaten sacred ceremonies and their ability to use the land.
"Bears is like a home to us," said Marie Holladay, fighting back tears. "It is home to the Navajo people."
As the controversy continues to build over a possible monument designation, a pro-monument group released poll results Tuesday tapping opinions of 500 registered voters in Utah that show 71 percent of them favor monument creation. The survey was conducted May 11, 12 and 14 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percent.
"This poll demonstrates that Utah voters strongly support designating the Bears Ears area as a national monument,” said Shantha Ready Alonso, executive director of Creation Justice Ministries. “Voters value protecting cliff dwellings, Mormon pioneer artifacts, and other unique historic sites from looters. They want to continue enjoying recreational activities, conserve wildlife habitat, and provide opportunities for families and children to spend time together and explore nature.”
In addition to the short documentary released by the Sutherland Institute's Coalition for Self Government in the West, the coalition's analyst Matt Anderson fired back at the poll done by Creation Justice Ministries, labeling it a "push poll" designed to produce the results it released.
"When the poll asks about the Bears Ears proposal, it pushes the outcome toward a supportive result by painting an image of a national monument where recreation and grazing are protected, which doesn’t square with Utah’s actual experience with national monuments," Anderson said. "For example, due to federal management practices that conflict with supposedly protected uses of the land, the number of cattle grazing in and around the Grand-Escalante National Monument has dropped dramatically over the last 20 years."
Anderson also criticized the poll because the majority of those surveyed — 68 percent — either said they knew "not much" or "nothing at all" about the Bears Ears National Monument proposal.
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State lawmakers will consider a resolution opposing President Barack Obama creating a new national monument in southeastern Utah when they go into special session next month."So the key question of the poll is asking people what they think about an issue that they know little or nothing about. How is that valuable to anyone?" Anderson said.
But monument supporters had their own, sharp criticism for Utah's political leaders chaffing against any new designation for San Juan County.
"I guess the takeaway is that because not every single Native American in the state or region supports a Bears Ears National Monument — the support by the Navajo Nation and other tribes is in question and the monument shouldn’t happen or if it does happen would be illegitimate," said Steve Bloch, attorney with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, reacting to press conference organized by Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab; Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem; and Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville.
"By that same token, since not every single Utahn supports the Utah Legislature and its hair-brained hijinks, they are similarly acting beyond their authority and without support," Bloch said.
The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition — representing five major Native American tribes — has been joined by environmental groups in their push for President Barack Obama to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the new monument in Utah.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, the majority of the Utah Legislature, the San Juan County Commission and Utah's congressional delegation are opposed to a monument creation and instead favor protections that would come with the establishment of a National Conservation Area, which isn't as restrictive for land uses.
