The Flagstaff City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to back the creation of a new national monument around the Grand Canyon.
The resolution endorses calling on President Joe Biden to form the new Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.
"I just wanted to express that this is a really exciting call for land action which is such an important step beyond the also important step of land acknowledgement," said Councilwoman Khara House.
Flagstaff’s mayor and vice mayor joined Interior Secretary Deb Haaland when she visited the area several weeks ago. And Gov. Katie Hobbs has also weighed in, urging the president to designate the monument.
It would protect more than 1 million acres around Grand Canyon National Park and forever ban mining in the region. A 20-year ban will expire in 2032.
The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, an advocacy group made up of former National Park Service employees, published a report highlighting its support for the monument designation today.
