Episode 51 The March for Utah’s Public Lands – Being an Instigator of Change in the Bigger Story

Episode 51: A Political Story about the newly designated Bear’s Ears National Monument and those who are willing to fight for its survival. For contact information for Utah senators, go to: http://senate.utah.gov/ When President Obama designated the Bears Ears National Monument he gave the following speech – The White House; Office of the Press Secretary. December 28, 2016 Statement by the President on the Designation of Bears Ears National Monument and Gold Butte National Monument Today, I am designating two new national monuments in the desert landscapes of southeastern Utah and southern Nevada to protect some of our country’s most important cultural treasures, including abundant rock art, archeological sites, and lands considered sacred by Native American tribes.  Today’s actions will help protect this cultural legacy and will ensure that future generations are able to enjoy and appreciate these scenic and historic landscapes. Importantly, today I have also established a Bears Ears Commission to ensure that tribal expertise and traditional knowledge help inform the management of the Bears Ears National Monument and help us to best care for its remarkable national treasures. Following years of public input and various proposals to protect both of these areas, including legislation and a proposal from tribal governments in and around Utah, these monuments will protect places that a wide range of stakeholders all agree are worthy of protection. We also have worked to ensure that tribes and local communities can continue to access and benefit from these lands for generations to come. #### For the state of Utah this has caused great controversy between government officials, Utah citizens, visiting tourists, outdoor recreationalists and industry professionals, and Native American Tribes. Listen to the whole podcast for real interviews with those who took to the streets to declare their support for public lands in an attempt to get the Utah governor and other Utah government officials who are opposed to it, to understand that there are many people who want the designation to remain; people who support public lands and the beauty and history the designation protects for generations to come. Creating our stories is something we do on a personal level. It’s also something we do on the big picture level. It’s those who dare to fight for the things they believe in, the heroes that stand up against the antagonists to create the world they believe should exist that determine how that world evolves. This podcast episode talks to some of those people who are out creating life stories backed by their ethics, principles, and sense of adventure.