After three decades of advocating, a sacred Indigenous site in Nevada has finally been honored as a national monument

In a great stride for Indigenous land protections, President Biden has officially designated Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument.

Spanning over 500,000 acres in the Mojave desert, the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is one of the largest pieces of land protected during Biden's presidency.

The area is home to the Spirit Mountains, which 12 surrounding Indigenous tribes consider to be the origin of creation and tribal cosmology. According to the Yuman-speaking tribes that inhabit the desert, the mountain is "where ancient ancestors emerged into this world."

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The area is home to the Spirit Mountains, which 12 surrounding Indigenous tribes consider to be the origin of creation and tribal cosmology. According to the Yuman-speaking tribes that inhabit the desert, the mountain is "where ancient ancestors emerged into this world."

Within the desert are the Dead Mountains on the southern border, which also hold sacred importance and reflect "traditional cosmogony, delineate religious events, embody religious figures, and define burial places."

The federal recognition follows decades of organizing from the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, who reside predominantly on a reservation outside of the monument.

The decision for the monument, however, has sparked conversation about clean energy development in Nevada.

In response, both the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Interior said they are working to delegate millions of acres for wind turbines and solar panels, identifying nearly 25 million acres of federal land eligible for alternative energy.

For the surrounding Yuman-speaking tribes of Nevada, this federal recognition signals greater collaboration with Indigenous communities and opportunity for necessary protections.

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A post shared by Honor Avi Kwa Ame (@honoravikwaame)

For the surrounding Yuman-speaking tribes of Nevada, this federal recognition signals greater collaboration with Indigenous communities and opportunity for necessary protections.