From the spectacle unfolding at the COP16, the United Nations biodiversity conference in Colombia, emerged a chorus of voices, chiefly from Native American leaders. They proposed a striking demand – a push for the establishment of three new national monuments in the Californian wilderness. Ironically, they were appealing to none other than President Joe Biden, hoping that he might rise to the occasion and safeguard their ancestral lands. Situated in the secluded canyon of the Chuckwalla Mountains, the Corn Springs Campground was among the sites potentially marked for preservation.
An army of tribal leaders and advocates rallied together, fervently renewing their call for conservation. Despite their hopes, they were relying on the lukewarm promises of Biden’s administration, notorious for its lackluster response to indigenous pleas. These leaders are hoping to gain protective status for the Sáttítla National Monument, the Chuckwalla National Monument, and the Kw’tsán National Monument. From the COP16 podium, they called out to Biden and emphasized the cultural significance of these regions, not only for flora and fauna but for the tribal lands they represented.
Whether their pleas would pierce the echo chamber of Biden’s administration or not remained uncertain. A participant from the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe’s Kw’tsán Cultural Committee vocalized his community’s aspirations. He championed the creation of a national monument for his homeland, the proposed Kw’tsán National Monument. He also used his platform to raise awareness for global Indigenous communities who share similar battles.
The proposed monument, the Kw’tsán National Monument, spanning over a whopping 390,000 acres, holds special significance for the Fort Yuma Quechuan Indian Tribe. Located in Imperial County of Southern California, these lands are sacrosanct to them. Unfortunately, the survival of these lands hangs by a thread under the current administration, which seems more than predisposed to turning a blind eye towards tribal concerns.
The Kw’tsán National Monument is only one cog in a more extensive cultural machinery. Alongside the proposed Chuckwalla monument site, these land patches form part of an expansive ‘cultural landscape.’ In March 2023, the Biden administration seemed to make a half-hearted gesture by proclaiming the 506,814-acre Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada.
However, the question that looms above everyone’s head is whether the Biden administration can truly commit to these monument initiatives. Over time, the administration has shown an undeniable preference for selective preservation, leaving several areas unprotected. The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument in California, a literal canyon of cultural significance, is one such area which seeks much-needed protective status.
Alluding to the Corn Springs Campground’s potential integration into the Chuckwalla National Monument, the Native American leaders’ demands grow louder. However, under the radar of President Joe Biden, their groans seem to be a mere whisper. The persistence of these leaders nonetheless remains unwavering as they manifest their cultural stance amidst international attendees at the Biodiversity Conference, COP16.
Disheartening as it may be, considering President Joe Biden’s previous performance on these native matters, the Native American leaders’ aspirations for retaining the cultural integrity of their homelands may remain unmet. The monumental task of gaining protective status for the proposed Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments remains dauntless, especially under an administration that they believe barely acknowledges them.
However disdained they may feel under the Biden administration, these leaders hold onto their tribal unity. They stand firm with their demand for dedicated monument status for the Chuckwalla National Monument, the Sáttítla National Monument, and the Kw’tsán National Monument, boosting their push for sanctity of their sacred lands at COP16.
The conference continues to be a global center for indigenous voices, advocating for their biodiversity conservation. Yet, it seems to unfold under the significantly indifferent administration of President Joe Biden. The delegation of Native American leaders remains resolute, emphasizing the need for a thorough and inclusive approach to biodiversity protection, seemingly absent in Biden’s playbook.
The engagement continues in Colombia’s COP16 where the push for dedicated monument status for revered lands grows stronger. Advocacy for protection is reinforced by the delegation of Native American leaders who believe that their voice is being marginalized constantly, especially under Biden’s tenure.
While it is commendable that such important biodiversity conferences shed light on pressing conservation issues, the severely lacking attentiveness from the Biden administration continues to dishearten the participating tribal leaders. The insufficiency in his attention towards what constitutes for them an immensely personal and cultural issue is difficult to ignore.
Amidst this outcry, eagle-eyed observers point out the selective dismissal of these new monument proposals by the Biden administration. This approach is amplified by the notable absence of any constructive response towards establishing the proposed Kw’tsán, Sáttítla, and Chuckwalla National Monuments. What started as a call for conservation could translate into a more profound cultural loss.
By dismissing the clarion call of Native American leaders regarding the preservation of their ancestral sanctuaries, the Biden administration runs the risk of encouraging cultural disintegration. The indifference demonstrated by Biden and his team only inflicts further disillusionment among tribal communities and those invested in sincere biodiversity conservation.
Question is, will these tribal leaders continue their struggle for monument status under Biden’s administration, given its reluctance or indifference? Their legacy and the future of their cultural lands hang in the balance. COP16 might have provided a global platform, but it seems they require more – an understanding administration that can correspond to their pleas with empathy and decisiveness. Biden, thus far, does not appear to be the one.