365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­

Skip to main content
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit
COCONINO VOICES

Coconino Voices: Nez - "We must unite for our most sacred lands"

National Day of Protest

Jonathan Nez, former president of the Navajo Nation, shows his support and talks to protesters on the Flagstaff City Hall lawn on Monday during the "No Kings on Presidents Day" protest.

I was born in the western part of the Navajo Nation in Tó Naneesdizí (Tuba City, AZ) about 70 miles east of the Grand Canyon and its newest national monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni. Just under two years ago, over one million acres of these iconic lands gained permanent protection thanks to years of advocacy by 14 Tribal Nations, including the Navajo Nation, and local communities. This monument preserves the stories, histories, and sacred sites of the Navajo, Havasupai, Hualapai, Paiute and Hopi people, among other Indigenous people. It also protects a vital source of water in the Southwest.

The Grand Canyon national monument is broadly beloved by tribal people and fellow Arizonans. According to a recent poll, 80% of voters support the designation. And a supermajority of Arizonans � 88% � support the Antiquities Act, which allowed for the monument’s creation. For 119 years, this bedrock conservation law has allowed presidents of both parties to designate existing national public lands as national monuments to protect Tribal land, cultural values, outdoor access, and wildlife habitat.



Born on the Navajo Nation in Tó Naneesdizí (Tuba City Arizona) and raised in ShÄ…Ì Ä…Ì Ê¼tóhí (Shonto Arizona), Jonathan Nez, is Ãshįįhí (Salt People) born for Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle clan). His maternal grandfather’s clan is Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan) and his paternal grandfather’s clan is Táchii’nii (Red-Running-Into-The-Water Clan). He is the former President and Vice President of Navajo Nation from 2015-2023. Early in his career, Nez served in several elected positions, including Vice President of the Shonto Chapter, a member of the Navajo Nation Council, and a seat on the Navajo County Board of Supervisors.



Explore More

Top Story

Legendary Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart and Mary Robinette Kowal, who created alternate-history astronauts in her Lady Astronaut series of books, will lead an all-star cast of speakers in… Read moreView from Mars Hill: Apollo astronaut Schweickart, author Kowal headline Asteroid Day in northern Arizona on June 30

Advertisement

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

News Alerts

Breaking News

Breaking News (FlagLive!)