(C) Common Dreams
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Supporters of the Chuckwalla National Monument Designation [1]
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Date: 2025-01-07
Senator Alex Padilla
“Establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument is another major victory for safeguarding California’s public lands for generations to come. This historic announcement accelerates our state’s crucial efforts to fight the climate crisis, protect our iconic wildlife, preserve sacred tribal sites, and promote clean energy while expanding equitable access to nature for millions of Californians. This designation reflects years of tireless work from tribal leaders to protect these sacred desert landscapes. President Biden has joined California leaders in championing our treasured natural wonders, and I applaud him for further cementing his strong public lands legacy.”
Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D.
“I am thrilled that President Biden will designate the Chuckwalla National Monument using the Antiquities Act. After years of negotiation and bringing several communities together, this achievement was made possible through the leadership and partnership of many organizations, tribes, and community leaders. Chuckwalla National Monument will pave the way for the future of conservation and renewable energy. I greatly appreciate Senators Padilla and Butler for their support and partnership over the last several years.”
Joseph DL Mirelez, Chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
“For thousands of years, the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians have called the lands in the Chuckwalla National Monument home. We are happy to see the designation protect this area that contains thousands of cultural places and objects of vital importance to the history and identity of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.”
Statement from the Tribal Council of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe
“The protection of the Chuckwalla National Monument brings the Quechan people an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. This national monument designation cements into history our solidarity and collective vision for our peoples. The essence of who we are lies in the landscapes of Chuckwalla and Avi Kwa Ame. Every trail, every living being, and every story in these places is connected to a rich history and heritage that runs in our DNA. That is why we look forward to the day when we can celebrate adding the proposed Kw’tsán National Monument for protection, as well.”
Erica Schenk, Chairwoman of the Cahuilla Band of Indians
“The Cahuilla Band of Indians strongly applauds the creation of the Chuckwalla National Monument. The area includes village sites, camps, quarries, food processing sites, power places, trails, glyphs, and story and song locations, all of which are evidence of the Cahuilla peoples’ and other Tribes’ close and spiritual relationship to these desert lands.”
Amelia Flores, Chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes
“The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) celebrates the permanent and long-term protection of ancestral lands and the cultural landscape through the designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument. CRIT has worked tirelessly to preserve and protect water, resources, and sacred sites. This designation clearly affirms CRIT’s spiritual, cultural, and ancestral connection to these lands.”
Chairman Darrell Mike of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians
“Our histories, stories, trails, songs, and traditional knowledge are alive in these lands. The animals, plants, insects, canyons, mountains, and other natural features in this region are foundational components to our cultural identity and existence as Tribal people. To us, cultural and natural resources are inseparable. They connect us to our ancestors and sustain our livelihoods and traditional practices today. The biodiversity and cultural resources present in this proposed monument are worthy of robust and proper protections.”
Assemblymember James Ramos, Member of the Serrano/Cahuilla Tribe and Chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus
“The California Legislature expressed strong bipartisan support for establishing Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments by passing Senate Joint Resolutions (SJRs) 16 and 17 last year. These new monuments include lands long-valued and cherished by California’s First Peoples for their cultural and sacred significance. I am glad to see these irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures join our nation’s network of national monuments.”
Michael Madrigal (Cahuilla), Board President, Native American Land Conservancy
“The Native American Land Conservancy celebrates the creation of Chuckwalla National Monument. We are grateful to the many Tribal Nations that engaged in the effort and called for the preservation and stewardship of this cultural landscape. It is heartening to see more Tribal communities involved in public land issues in recent years. Indigenous people must be heard and actively involved in all spaces that discuss the management of our homelands. We will continue to support Tribal communities and their many efforts to preserve cultural, natural, and spiritual values which are the foundations of our existence.”
Raisa Lee, Sr. Director of Development, Clearway Energy Group
“Chuckwalla National Monument is a testament to the reality that conservation and clean energy progress go hand in hand. We are grateful to Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz for their tireless and collaborative work to protect biological and cultural areas while helping meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable, low-cost energy.”
Dr. Frank Figueroa, Coachella City Council Member
“I am thrilled that the calls of our Eastern Coachella Valley communities were heard and our public lands protected. By establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument, we are protecting these lands’ cultural, recreational, and biodiversity values. This monument will provide recreation and outdoor access for many of these park-deprived communities and bring additional economic growth to the region.”
Denise Delgado, Coachella City Council Member
“These lands hold much cultural, religious, and recreational significance for the communities of this region. They provide accessible outdoor recreation such as camping, hiking, OHV, and hunting opportunities for the Eastern Coachella Valley residents. In addition, the establishment of the Chuckwalla National Monument will enhance economic benefits for this entire region. I’m thrilled that we are preserving rich biodiversity and cultural resources for future generations by protecting these lands.”
Waymond Fermon, Indio City Councilmember
“A new Chuckwalla National Monument will help to provide access to nature, protect places for outdoor recreation, boost our economy, and benefit businesses. In under an hour’s drive, residents of my community of Indio will be able to experience the beauty of the monument and explore nature close to home. National monument status will ensure that places beloved for outdoor recreation are here for current and future generations to enjoy.”
Evan Trubee, Owner of Big Wheel Tours and Palm Desert City Councilmember
“I am thrilled to celebrate the establishment of the new Chuckwalla National Monument. Protecting public lands here in the Coachella Valley preserves the wildlife and beautiful landscapes that make our desert home unique. It will help ensure access to the outdoors for our local communities and protect the nature that draws visitors to Riverside and Imperial Counties.”
Nancy Ross, Mayor, Cathedral City
“I am elated with the new designation of Chuckwalla National Monument. As the newest jewel in the Coachella Valley, this monument will support the valley’s economy and preserve outdoor spaces that are beloved for recreation opportunities. It’s for these reasons that my city (Cathedral City), along with the cities of Banning, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and hundreds of businesses supported this designation.”
Deborah McGarrey, La Quinta Mayor Pro Tem and Board Member of Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
“The new Chuckwalla National Monument is great news for our community. Protecting these
important public lands and beloved natural spaces will encourage tourism and benefit local businesses.”
Gary Gardner, Desert Hot Springs Mayor Pro Tem and Coachella Valley Conservation Commission
“I am thrilled about the new Chuckwalla National Monument. This will provide even more opportunities for people to access the outdoors, as well as protect our beautiful deserts. Outdoor recreation and access to our gorgeous desert lands are among the primary drivers of our tourism-based economy and are part of what makes living here so special.”
Kevin Saunders, Executive Director, San Jacinto-Hemet Chamber of Commerce
“The San Jacinto-Hemet Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically celebrates the creation of Chuckwalla National Monument. This designation helps ensure access to nature for residents and supports a diversified economy with increased opportunities for tourism, jobs, and investments in our communities. We applaud U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D., for their support of this effort.”
Iris Gutierrez, President of the High Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“Designating Chuckwalla National Monument helps address the gap that Latinos face in accessing nature. Studies have shown that people of color, low-income communities, and families with children are most likely to be deprived of the wellness benefits that nature provides. The new monument will help ensure that our communities have access to nature and will also contribute to our economy. This is a win-win for our region.”
Reuben Gonzalez, Executive Director, Blue Zones Banning
“We welcome the designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument – its existence dovetails with Blue Zones Banning’s goal to create a healthier community where people can live longer, healthier lives. Access to nature nearby is known to elevate a community’s mental, physical, and economic well-being; we look forward to enjoying and exploring the Chuckwalla National Monument in our regional backyard.”
Lee Morcus, Co-Founder, Kaiser Restaurant Group, Palm Desert
“My father and I founded our restaurant group in the Coachella Valley over 32 years ago, and we have deep roots in this community. We are one of over 300 businesses and business groups that called for the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument. The new monument will contribute to our local economies and communities and ensure that future generations can continue to visit and enjoy these lands.”
Mr. Lee Espinoza, Coachella Valley Boxing Club
“This designation supports the Coachella Valley’s youth. Throughout the years, I have instilled in many young athletes, many of whom became world champions, the love for their communities and the discipline of boxing. Our families in the Eastern Coachella Valley must have access to sports facilities and outdoor recreation to improve their physical and mental health. Establishing Chuckwalla National Monument will help provide our residents with easy and affordable outdoor recreation access while safeguarding our public lands for future generations.”
Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, Marine Corps veteran, and resident of Southern California
“We applaud the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument. We see protecting these public lands as an extension of our service to this country and the duty of anyone who thinks of themselves as a patriot.”
Craig Meling, former U.S. Army Major who lives in the Coachella Valley
“A major part of my transition back to civilian life and healing has been time spent with nature. The new Chuckwalla National Monument will preserve the important military history of the area and can also serve as a place of respite for those healing from the trauma of war.”
Desert Sun Editorial Board “Chuckwalla Monument designation a boon for Coachella Valley”
[Chuckwalla National Monument] “will preserve decades of cultural richness, particularly for the local tribal communities….This is a win-win for so many reasons…Most importantly, the Chuckwalla Monument will help to ensure equitable access to nature for communities in the eastern Coachella Valley and nearby areas.”
Rhian Reyes, Campaign Organizer, Audubon California’s Salton Sea and Deserts Program, Former Chuckwalla National Monument Youth Ambassador, and Palm Desert Resident
“I grew up in the Coachella Valley and have been lucky enough to get to know the slot canyons and broad washes of our newest national monument. But in my work with Eastern Coachella Valley high school students, I learned that none of them had ever gone hiking or camping, not even in this beautiful landscape right here in our backyards. In a region already suffering some of the state’s highest rates of respiratory and other health problems, time spent in nature brings a host of mental and physical benefits. Designating this monument permanently protects these lands and the wildlife that rely on them so that generations of young people like me can hike, camp, and enjoy outdoor recreation activities close to home.”
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[1] Url:
https://protectchuckwalla.org/2025/01/07/supporters-of-the-chuckwalla-national-monument-designation/
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