I am writing to express my opposition to the recent reduction of the Bears Ears National Monument boundaries. This decision leaves me both confused and deeply concerned for the future of the land I call home.
Growing up on the border of the Navajo Nation, my scout troop regularly frequented a camp in the Abajo Mountains, an area the current administration claims was not open to public access. Being raised with the Scouting Outdoor Code while among the Navajo people taught me that land is more than property; it is a living memory.
The land that helped me earn 51 merit badges and the rank of Eagle Scout now appears to be undermined by the very people entrusted to protect it. The rollback of monument status prioritizes short-term extraction over long-term preservation. It is disheartening to be told by officials that we lack public access when, in reality, one only has to walk these trails to see the truth. I worry that future generations will be denied the experiences that shaped my character and my stewardship.
I urge our elected officials — specifically Sen. Lee and Sen. Curtis — to prioritize the voices of those who live here and steward these lands, rather than the interests of those who have never walked these trails. We must ensure these areas remain protected for all who seek to learn from them.
Samuel Bloomfield, Provo