Bears Ears and the Greater Chaco region are more than archaeological sites—they are living cultural landscapes that connect people, history, and place across generations.
As discussions continue about the future of these landscapes and proposed changes to the Section 106 review process, Crow Canyon is committed to helping our community understand what is at stake, why these places matter, and how we can all contribute to their stewardship.
# THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Bears Ears and Greater Chaco are living cultural landscapes.
These places are more than collections of archaeological sites—they hold enduring cultural, spiritual, and historical significance for Indigenous communities today.
2. Proposed changes to Section 106 could affect how cultural resources are considered in federal decisions.
The review process helps ensure that cultural heritage, Tribal perspectives, and potential impacts are considered before federally funded, permitted, or managed projects move forward.
3. There are opportunities to learn more and participate.
Public comments regarding the Greater Chaco Landscape are due July 29, and resources are available to help individuals understand the issues and engage in the process.
# AT A GLANCE: WHY CULTURAL LANDSCAPES MATTER
Ancestral places preserve the history, identity, and living traditions of the people connected to them. Their importance extends far beyond the physical places themselves. Some key reasons they matter include:
– They preserve cultural heritage. Ancestral places contain information about how people lived, worked, and interacted with their environment. They help keep languages and traditions alive across generations.
– They have spiritual and cultural significance. For many Indigenous peoples and communities, these places are sacred and remain active sites for ceremonies, remembrance, and cultural practices—not just historical landmarks.
– They strengthen identity and belonging. Ancestral places help people maintain a dynamic connection to their ancestors and community history, fostering a sense of continuity and shared identity.
– They provide historical and scientific knowledge. Archaeologists, historians, and researchers learn about past societies through these sites, helping us better understand cultural histories, migrations, technologies, environmental changes, and human resilience.
– They educate future generations. Protected places allow students and visitors to learn directly from authentic places rather than relying on written records.
– They support biodiversity and traditional stewardship. Many ancestral lands have been sustainably managed for centuries, and protecting them can also help conserve ecosystems, habitat, and traditional ecological knowledge.
– They benefit local communities. Respectfully managed cultural tourism can create jobs and support local economies while encouraging appreciation for cultural diversity.
Once damaged or destroyed, the knowledge, stories, and cultural connections held within these ancestral places go with them and may be impossible to recover. Preservation helps ensure that both present and future generations can learn from and maintain connections to their shared human heritage.
# CENTERING TRIBAL VOICES
Any conversation about cultural landscapes should begin by listening to the people whose histories, traditions, and responsibilities remain tied to these places.
The All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG), representing the 20 Pueblo Nations of New Mexico and Texas, describes Chaco as part of a larger cultural landscape that remains deeply connected to Pueblo communities today. The Greater Chaco Region includes ancestral villages, migration routes, sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, and places that continue to hold cultural and spiritual significance for Pueblo peoples.
“Chaco left no written language. The history is written in the landscape. When we disturb the landscape, we erase the pages of the history book.”—Theresa Pasqual (Acoma Pueblo), Crow Canyon’s EVP of Indigenous Affairs
As Crow Canyon works alongside Tribal partners, we recognize that Tribal Nations are not simply stakeholders. They are knowledge holders, partners, and stewards whose connections to these places continue today.
# WHAT IS SECTION 106?
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act helps ensure that federal agencies consider cultural and historic resources before making decisions about federally funded, permitted, or managed projects.
The process helps:
– Identify significant cultural resources
– Consult with Tribal Nations and other stakeholders
– Evaluate potential impacts of development
– Consider ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate harm
Section 106 does not stop development. It provides a framework for informed decision-making that considers cultural heritage alongside other priorities.
For decades, Section 106 has served as a balanced framework that helps federal agencies consider the impacts of their actions on historic and cultural resources while providing opportunities for Tribal consultation and public participation. Recent proposed revisions have raised concerns among Tribal Nations, preservation organizations, archaeologists, and heritage professionals that these long-standing processes could be significantly altered.
Recent proposals to revise the regulations that guide Section 106 have raised concerns among Tribal Nations, preservation organizations, archaeologists, and heritage professionals regarding consultation, public participation, and the treatment of cultural landscapes.
# WHY SHOULD CITIZENS CARE?
Most people will never participate in a Section 106 review, yet many of the places they value have benefited from the process.
Decisions being made today may influence:
– How cultural resources are identified and evaluated
– How Tribal Nations participate in decision-making
– Opportunities for public involvement
– How cultural landscapes are understood and protected
These are not simply regulatory questions. They are questions about how we value and steward our shared heritage.
# STEWARDSHIP IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Stewardship belongs to all of us. Whether through education, research, Tribal partnerships, public participation, or community engagement, we each have a role in protecting the places that connect us to the past.
At Crow Canyon, we believe stewardship begins with learning, listening, and respect.
# HOW TO LEARN MORE AND ENGAGE
Explore Bears Ears and the Greater Chaco Landscape
– Learn about the cultural significance of the Greater Chaco Landscape and current opportunities for public engagement through the All Pueblo Council of Governors Chaco Protection Resources.
– Explore educational resources and Tribal perspectives through the Pueblo of Acoma Cultural Preservation Office.
– Learn more about Bears Ears from the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition.
– Explore the history and significance of Chaco throughAdvisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Introduction to Section 106.
– Explore the National Historic Preservation Act Overview from the National Park Service.
– Review current information regarding proposed revisions to the Section 106 regulations through the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Hear Directly from Tribal Voices
– Follow updates and statements from the All Pueblo Council of Governors.
– Hear from Acoma Pueblo Governor Riley.
– Learn from the work of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, which shares Indigenous perspectives on stewardship, cultural heritage, and landscape protection.
– Watch Crow Canyon live webinar events or YouTube webinar recordings featuring Tribal leaders, scholars, and community members discussing cultural landscapes and Indigenous knowledge.
Participate
– Submit comments regarding the Greater Chaco Landscape before the July 29 public comment deadline. Access educational resources, toolkits, and comment guidance through APCG.
Physical Mailing Address: Bureau of Land Management | Farmington Field Office | ATTN: Sarah Scott, Chaco Withdrawal EA | 6251 College Blvd., Suite A | Farmington, NM 87402
– Contact the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at (202) 517-0200 and ask that your comments regarding proposed revisions to 36 CFR Part 800 be shared with Council members.
– Call your senators and representatives. If you aren’t sure who they are, you can look them up HERE. If you’d rather not speak directly, leave a voicemail after hours. Just be sure to include your name and address so your call is counted.
– Talk to friends and family. Your voice matters and community voices carry weight.
– Attend public meetings, webinars, and informational sessions hosted by Tribal Nations, preservation organizations, and federal agencies related to cultural landscape stewardship and public participation.
The future of cultural landscapes will be shaped not only by policies and regulations, but by the choices all of us make as learners, listeners, and stewards.