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Published on January 15, 2025
Coconino County Supervisors Join Grand Canyon National Monument Advisory CommitteeSource: Coconino County AZ

Coconino County Supervisors Patrice Horstman and Lena Fowler are set to join the newly-formed Monument Advisory Committee (MAC) for the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, according to a recent announcement by the county. Appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the supervisors bring a wealth of experience in environmental and cultural conservation efforts to the committee tasked with the monument’s sustainable management.

Fowler, representing as a tribal official, pledges to uphold the legacy and integrity of a landscape deeply intertwined with Indigenous heritage. In a statement made by Coconino County, she expressed her honor "to have been selected for this important role," emphasizing the monument's representation of ancestral footprints and committing herself to ensure it remains a symbol of cultural significance for future generations. Horstman, representing as an elected official, aims to protect the wide-reaching District 1, which encompasses a considerable part of the monument's land. She expressed her dedication to collaborative management that honors Indigenous history and preserves the land for future generations.

Coconino County's statement underlines the supervisor's record of "longstanding dedication" to protecting Northern Arizona's natural and cultural resources. Horstman, with a personal passion for public lands, especially the Grand Canyon, highlighted her commitment to a management plan that respects the region's diverse population and advances conservation efforts. "Recognizing the important cultural, historic, environmental, economic, and recreational importance of this Monument, I look forward to being a part of the collaborative effort to develop a management plan that recognizes the Indigenous people that have called these sacred lands home," Horstman told Coconino County.