Department of the Interior Receives Overwhelming Public Support for Bears Ears

Department of the Interior Receives Overwhelming Public Support for Bears Ears
Supporters of Bears Ears National Monument sent a flood of comments to the Department of the Interior urging that the Utah monument be protected, with more than 685,000 messages of support submitted in just 15 days….“Trump and Zinke need to listen to the American people for once instead of corporate polluters. The people have made it crystal clear that they stand with Bears Ears and in solidarity with the Bears Ears Inter-tribal Coalition,” said Kierán Suckling, the Center for Biological Diversity’s executive director. “They won’t stand by while Trump and anti-public lands zealots plunder and pillage the country’s most stunning landscapes and cultural treasures for profits.” http://bit.ly/2rgJv87 –  Sierra Sun Times

Initial Sampling of Bears Ears Comments Reveals a Public Support rate of 96%
If the more than 100,000 comments thus far submitted is any guide, moves against these monuments ­­­would be unpopular, according to the pro-monuments Center for Western Priorities. The group analyzed a random sample of 500 comments, half of which referenced the Bears Ears. It found just 2.8 percent called for eliminating or reducing monuments, while 96 percent urge Zinke to leave boundaries alone.

Legal Analysis: The Law Is on the Side of the Monuments
As Utah political leaders continue predicting President Donald Trump will shrink or even erase the new Bears Ears National Monument, a soon-to-be published legal analysis concludes that presidents have no authority to mess with monuments established by a predecessor. Such moves would defeat the purpose of the Antiquities Act, the 1906 law that authorizes presidents to unilaterally set aside public lands to protect “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest,” according to Sean Hecht, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. http://bit.ly/2rgRfXI – Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: We’ve Already Fought for These Monuments
To hear the U.S. Department of Interior tell it, it’s essential that the public has a say on how lands are managed. That’s why, for the first time ever, a formal comments period on national monuments has been established. Trouble is, this review is retroactive, a result of an executive order by President Donald Trump asking Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to examine presidential designations of monuments under the Antiquities Act going back two decades. The order targets 27 monuments. In New Mexico, where strong coalitions of the public — ranchers, business owners, tribal members, veterans, outdoor enthusiasts, local Hispanos and others — worked for decades to win such designations in both Southern and Northern New Mexico, this executive order is a flat rejection of their efforts. It diminishes public input and participation. http://bit.ly/2rgAP1q – Santa Fe New Mexican

Colorado Congressmen Call for Preservation of Canyon of the Ancients National Monument
Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-3) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in support of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southerwest Colorado. In the letter, Gardner and Tipton say “any review of Canyons should conclude that no changes to the designation are necessary.” http://bit.ly/2rgPFoK – Fox 21 News.com

Veteran’s Perspectives on Public Lands
I encourage everyone – especially young people old enough – to vote for candidates who will support our national parks, monuments, forests and state parks. I also think it is important to keep public lands public and to ensure good public access to these lands. We also should encourage our children and grandchildren to visit and see firsthand how important public lands are to everyone. We also need to encourage all young people to serve in some capacity to better their country. http://bit.ly/2rggp8L – New Mexico Wildlife.org

Blogs Worth Reading: Consideration of a Native Perspective on the Clovis Point in Space and Kennewick Skull Casts
Archaeologists often find themselves navigating through potentially contentious issues, especially appropriation or commercialization. Recently, the sending of a Clovis point into space and selling replica skulls of The Ancient One, more popularly known as Kennewick Man, have brought these issues to the fore.  http://bit.ly/2rgfLrR – Bob Muckel via Anthropology news

Video Presentation – The Night Skies at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Even in New Mexico, it’s hard to find really dark places to view stars. Chaco Canyon is one really good place. So is the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. KOB’s photojournalist Richard Estrada recently paid the national monument a visit, and he said it’s a great place to be if you want to see the night sky pop. Watch the video above to see more. http://bit.ly/2rgScPD – KOB4.Com

New Exhibit at El Paso Museum of Archaeology Focuses upon Paquime
The El Paso Museum of Archaeology unveiled its new special exhibition titled “Paquime and the Casas Grandes Culture” on Saturday. Officials say the free exhibition showcases the importance of Paquime, a prehistoric ruin site located in northwest Mexico, during the 13th and 14th centuries AD. The city became an important trade center with “substantial quantities” of such commodities as turquoise, shell, colorful parrots, copper items, and more. http://bit.ly/2rgGWCZ – El Paso Proud.com

The Strange Case of the New Mexican Carved Stone Pillars
A set of mysterious stone pillars found in the state’s remote northern forest has sparked that question. They’re carved stone pillars covered with symbols that clearly have a history — but a history, so far, no one seems to know anything about. One man has now made it his quest to find the answer. He’s hoping someone will step forward to help solve the mystery that spans across decades near Cimarron. http://bit.ly/2rgI5dJ – KRQE.com

Colorado Officials Turn to Public for Help in Identifying Suspected Rock Art Vandals
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is trying to identify two people who were photographed possibly vandalizing a rock wall at Deer Creek Canyon Park. The sheriff’s office said said the alleged vandalism took place on the Plymouth Creek Trail just before 2 p.m. Sunday. http://bit.ly/2rgL8mc – Fox 31 Denver

Lecture Opportunities – Cliff, New Mexico
The University of Arizona School of Anthropology and Archaeology Southwest Field School present a series of lectures during the month of June. These talks are free and open to the public. See http://bit.ly/2rgKrcy for more information in PDF format.

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Dr. Thomas E. Chavez, Former Director, Palace of the Governors, Museum of  New Mexico, Department of Cultural Affairs, and former Executive Director, National Hispanic Cultural Center; Historian and Author, “A Moment in Time; The odyssey of New Mexico’s Segesser Hides”; “Spain and the Independence of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift”; “New Mexico, Past and Future; An Illustrated History of New Mexico”; “Spain and the Independence of the United States,” and Recipient, Order of Isabella the Catholic from the Government of Spain, who will give a lecture, “Spain and Benjamin Franklin: An Unknown History” on June 5 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Voices From the Past Lecture Series held to honor and acknowledge The New Mexico History Museum. Admission is by subscription or $15 at the door. No reservations are necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt at tel 505 466-2775; email: southwest seminar@aol.com; website: http://southwestseminars.org

Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) is pleased to present Saul Hedquist on Monday, June 19^th at 7:30 pm in the University Medical Center’s Duval Auditorium (1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson 85724), who will discuss, “Turquoise and Social Identity in the Late Prehispanic Western Pueblo Region, A.D. 1275–1400.” Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please visit the AAHS website: http://www.az-arch-and-hist.org/, or contact John D. Hall at halljohnd1@gmail.com with questions about this or any other AAHS program.

Lecture Opportunity – Winslow
The Homolovi Chapter of AAS (Arizona Archaeological Society) is pleased to present Charles Adams, PhD, on Wednesday, 10 May, at 7 p.m. at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (Historic Lorenzo Hubbell Trading Post), 523 W. Second St, Winslow, AZ, with a presentation entitled “From Rock Art Ranch to Homol’ovi: 13,000 Years of Migration in the Middle Little Colorado River Valley”. You can also join us for dinner at 5 p.m. at the Historic La Posada Turquoise Room (on your own tab).