change that. With President Trump reducing Bears Ears by 85 percent, we have sued him individually and are working through the courts to try to overturn that decision, and we’re also looking to that original proclamation that involves tribes in the decision-making, in bringing their traditional knowledge and wisdom to the planning table.
We’re working closely with a lot of Native American communities to understand those deep ties and traditional stewardship practices. We’re getting information organized and getting tribal leaders into a position where they can effectively engage when and if they choose. Right now, we are involved in efforts to bring back the original monument, so we’re trying to engage the national public to help us do that. We’re building the capacity and increasing the engagement of tribes and tribal members in that process.
Four bills in Congress now are looking to do things to either restore or further degrade national monument protections in Utah, so we’re actively engaged in all of those bills, and we are asking the public to help.
What does most of UDB’s work focus on?
The majority of our work is very focused on engaging native communities and listening to what they want, supporting their goals, and trying to figure out how to support a kind of collaboration that we’ve never seen before across tribes. Another big piece is the defensive work, engaging the national public, correcting stereotypes about Native Americans, getting positive stories out about native people’s connections to the landscapes, and connecting with people internationally. Indigenous people are doing great work around the world, and there’s a lot to learn from them, as well as from what’s happening with Bears Ears. We are studying planning documents and are trying to build a new model for traditional land stewardship and incorporate it into the Bears Ears National Monument plan.
When do you think your own personal
At birth. I’m weirdly connected to Utah—the sights and smells, and everything about being in a place where you were born. I’ve always been passionate about protecting lands and waters and the beauty around us, but also preserving and building communities—making sure we have strong connections to the places that we’re in and to each other. This also includes social justice issues. Growing up in Utah, even though I’m a white, privileged male, I became acutely aware of how differently I could be treated for what I felt were things that didn’t think matter.
How do
involved in the efforts to bring back the original monument, so we’re trying to engage the national public to help us do that. We’re building the capacity and increasing the engagement of tribes and tribal members in that process.
Four bills in Congress now are looking to do things to restore or further undo the possibility of the monument coming back, so we’re actively engaged in all of those, asking the public to help us push some of those bills and kill other bills.
What does most of UDB’s work focus on?
The majority of our work is very focused on engaging communities and listening to what they want and supporting their goals, and trying to figure out how to build collaboration that we’ve never seen before across tribes. Another big piece is the defensive work, engaging the national public, correcting stereotypes about tribes, getting positive stories out about native people’s connections to the landscapes, and connecting with people internationally. Indigenous people are doing great work around the world, and there’s a lot to learn from them, as well as from what’s happening with Bears Ears. We are studying planning documents and trying to build a new model for traditional land stewardship and incorporate it into the Bears Ears National Monument plan.
When do you think your own personal connection to the land took hold?
At birth. I’m weirdly connected to Utah—the sights and smells, and everything about being in a place where you were born. I’ve always been passionate about protecting lands and waters and the beauty around us, but also preserving and building communities—making sure we have strong connections to the places that we’re in and to each other. This also includes social justice issues. Growing up in Utah, even though I’m a white, privileged male, I became acutely aware of how differently I could be treated for what I felt were things that didn’t think matter.
How do you think nonprofits will contribute to land conservation in the future?
I think we’re in a really amazing moment for social change and for the role of nonprofits in helping us strengthen our communities. For young people who are interested in enjoying the natural world but also looking at how they want to apply their energies for the future, nonprofits are a place where you can be very creative and very solution-oriented.
There are many ways of engaging the public and private sectors to do a lot of good. A lot of people in our country aren’t that aware that Native Americans even exist. But there’s so much they could teach us—for example, the ways they engage in the public process. There’s probably dozens of sectors of our society that could get organized and provide services, and create a fuller and more complete society by participating more.
I think the people in nonprofits need to figure out how to build the kind of organizations—and how to be the kind of leaders—we need guiding us forward. I have a lot of hope in nonprofits, and there are many ways for people to define their careers in the nonprofit sector, looking at the greater good and being creative about how each person applies their energies. Nonprofits are a great place to be, and young people can get involved and look at how they can make it stronger.
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Left: Bear dance (Tim Peterson). Right: Summer gathering (BlakeMcCord)