Washington, D.C.— In response to the introduction of Representative Grijalva’s legislation to protect the Great Bend of the Gila, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa Arizona issued the following statements:

“Representative Grijalva’s legislation introduced today is critical to protect the Great Bend of the Gila,” said LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick. “This iconic river valley and desert has been home to Indigenous communities for thousands of years, and the climate crisis and development are threatening the ecosystem, wildlife, and the local communities who rely on this diverse landscape. Indigenous and local communities have long led the call to protect the Great Bend of the Gila, and now it’s time for Congress to protect this treasured land for future generations.”

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“Chispa Arizona celebrates today’s bill introduction by Rep. Raúl Grijalva. We are inspired by our Indigenous relatives who have called the Great Bend of the Gila home for millennia, have ongoing ties to the land, and have been calling for its designation as a national monument for decades. The legacy of cultural diversity here is written on the landscape in the form of tens of thousands of petroglyphs authored by Native Tribes,” said Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarría. “We thank Rep. Grijalva for listening to Tribes to protect this land for generations to come. As Arizonans, we’re lucky to have this site that has endured the test of time in our backyard. The Great Bend of the Gila is not just a physical place but critical to understanding the rich diversity and culture of our state’s stories and history and a connection to the experiences of Indigenous, Latinx, and other communities that make our country whole. We ask that Congress also hear the call of the original caretakers of this land and protect The Great Bend of the Gila in perpetuity.”

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