Tribes File Suit to Protect Bears Ears

The Navajo Nation, Native American Rights Fund (representing the Hopi Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe), and the Ute Indian Tribe Take Legal Action

President Trump’s action to revoke and replace the Bears Ears National Monument is not only an attack on the five sovereign nations with deep ties to the Bears Ears region, it is a complete violation of the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution. No president has ever revoked and replaced a national monument before because it is not legal to do so. In light of this blatant violation of law, the Navajo Nation, NARF (representing the Hopi Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe), and the Ute Indian Tribe filed a lawsuit on Monday, December 4, 2017 to defend Bears Ears National Monument.

In legal matters, the Navajo Nation is represented by the Navajo Nation Department of Justice; the Hopi Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes are represented by the Native American Rights Fund; and Ute Indian Tribe is represented by Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP.

Resources:

The Bears Ears Legal Complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on December 4, 2017 may be downloaded here: https://goo.gl/r69gSi Photos and video b-roll are available for royalty-free media use are available:

Photos of 12/2/17 Monumental Mistake Rally: https://goo.gl/aJPxqi

Photos of places cut from Bears Ears National Monument: https://goo.gl/zEYzqE

Video b roll of places cut from Bears Ears National Monument: https://goo.gl/YyH71G

The Hopi, Navajo, Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Zuni tribal governments are working together to defend Bears Ears National Monument. http://ProtectBearsEars.org/