Tribal leaders call on federal officials to protect Chaco Canyon buffer zone

Tribal and Pueblo governments, conservation groups and elected officials are urging federal officials to maintain Biden-era protections around Chaco Canyon, according to reporting by Source New Mexico. A 10-mile buffer zone around the historic site, established to prevent oil and gas development for 20 years, is under threat from a Republican-backed bill in Congress. The National Congress of American Indians passed a resolution June 17 supporting permanent protections and called for full tribal consultation before any decisions are made. Pueblo of Acoma Governor Charles Riley was quoted as saying the region represents “our most sacred ancestral homeland.” More than two dozen groups and 38 government officials also sent letters to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in support of maintaining existing protections.