Voices from Bears Ears: Seeking Common Ground on Sacred Land

In December 2016, President Barack Obama designated Bear Ears National Monument on public lands in southeastern Utah. The act appeared to conclude decades of conflict over how best to utilize public lands in the area. Those in favor of the monument included Hopi, Navajo, Ute, and Zuni peoples who sought to protect sacred ancestral lands. Others, such as proponents of the Sagebrush Rebellion in the late 1970s and early 1980s, saw any protections imposed by the federal government as a threat to their economic security. Journalist Robinson examines the decades of debate through interviews with stakeholders representing a multitude of perspectives. Although the text attempts to be unbiased in its presentation, the beautiful full-color photographs by Strom showing the natural beauty of the area make a powerful case for its protection. The book focuses on trying to find a common path forward, only to find conflict rekindled by President Donald Trump's decision to shrink Bear Ears National Monument by 85 percent in 2017.