U.S. Department of the Interior

Deb Haaland in 2021.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland met with tribal leaders and environmental groups pushing for the Biden administration to designate more than 1 million acres of land surrounding the Grand Canyon as a national monument. The designation would forever protect the area from any mining. 

According to the Interior Department, Haaland met with members of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition this weekend as well as members of Congress from Arizona. It was the first time Haaland traveled to the area to see the proposed monument area since she agreed earlier this year to come out at the invitation of Congressman Raúl Grijalva. 

Former Havasupai tribal leader Carletta Tilousi said, "I believe all the tribal leaders felt encouraged that someone is finally listening to the voices of the tribes of Arizona."

Haaland made no mention of whether the administration would designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. But her office pointed out the economic value that outdoors recreation has in Arizona, stating that outdoors recreation accounted for 2% of Arizona’s economy in 2021.