Washington, D.C. – Members of the Por La Creación Faith-Based Alliance are reaching out to President Joe Biden, urging him to use his power under the Antiquities Act to designate three proposed national monuments in California. Por La Creación educates and empowers stewards of God’s creation to leave a legacy for the future by conserving our natural environment.

“Our earth is a gift from our Creator,” said Pastor Alvaro Gamez from Sendero de la Cruz in Sacramento, California. “Taking care of it honors that gift and ensures it will be there for future generations. We believe that creation was meant for everyone, not just one generation or group. Conservation helps us protect our land, water, and natural resources for all.”

Earlier this year, President Biden used the Antiquities Act to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which protected almost 120,000 acres of federal lands in California. This action was met with widespread support from California Tribes and Indigenous community leaders, elected officials, local community members and groups like Por La Creación who advocated for the permanent protection of these public lands.

“We are grateful for these achievements, but there is still much more to do,” said Pastor Mike Gomez, with Calvery Chapel AG from Los Angeles, California. “The alliance is asking President Biden to designate three more national monuments: Chuckwalla, Sáttítla, and Kw’tsán. These areas are near Latino communities and are vital both culturally and ecologically.”

Chuckwalla National Monument:
The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument includes approximately 627,000 acres of public lands in Riverside and Imperial Counties. It is located south of Joshua Tree National Park and reaches from the Coachella Valley region in the west to near the Colorado River in the East. This effort also proposes protecting approximately 17,000 acres of public lands in the Eagle Mountains adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park. 

Sáttítla National Monument:  

The proposed Sáttítla National Monument includes over 200,000 acres of culturally significant, ecologically rich, and geologically unique land within the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, and Modoc National Forests in northeastern California. Since time immemorial, the Pit River Nation has regarded Sáttítla as sacred, and this area remains a spiritual center for the Pit River and Modoc Nations as well as for surrounding Tribal Peoples. This sacred land remains integral to the cultural identity and spiritual practices of these peoples today. The Pit River Tribe initiated the call for this national monument and has been working for generations to protect this landscape from the threat of industrial development. 

Kw’tsán National Monument:

The Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe has called on President Biden to designate the proposed Kw’tsán National Monument to protect more than 390,000 acres of the Tribe’s homelands in Imperial County. The proposed monument is part of a greater cultural landscape that connects to the Chuckwalla National Monument and the previously designated Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada. National monument status for Kw’tsán would provide protections for cultural and sacred sites and prevent new mining claims and large industrial development within its boundaries. 

“Our Calling, Our Call”

“Our earth is a gift from our Creator. Taking care of it honors that gift and ensures it will be there for future generations. We believe that creation was meant for everyone, not just one generation or group. Conservation helps us protect our land, water, and natural resources for all. As faith leaders, we teach our congregations the importance of conservation to maintain a sustainable balance of resources. To ensure our children and future generations inherit a healthy earth, we must protect the environment and fulfill God’s mission of caring for his creation,” reads the letter of support for national monuments.

Por La Creación Faith-Based Alliance supports the creation of these new national monuments because it addresses the needs of Latino communities, honors the history of Indigenous peoples, and promotes the health of our nation. They respectfully urge the Biden Administration to listen to the voices of the faith community and designate Chuckwalla National Monument, Sáttítla National Monument, and Kw’tsán National Monument.

To read the letter, please click here https://porlacreacion.org/about/sign-on-letter  [LINK TO LETTER]

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POR LA CREACIÓN

The Por La Creación Faith-Based Alliance educates and empowers stewards of God’s creation to leave a legacy for the future by conserving our natural environment. Composed of Latino faith leaders around the US, Por La Creación encourages Latinos to take active engagement in protecting the nation’s natural resources. Por La Creación’s leadership has been instrumental in spurring change that preserves our natural treasures for future generations. Working with communities, decision-makers, and the media, Por La Creación has a storied record of protecting our historical and cultural heritage in multiple states.

https://porlacreacion.org/about

HISPANIC ACCESS FOUNDATION

Whether we are helping Latinos improve their financial literacy, explore new workforce opportunities, become environmental stewards or advocate for better health, trust and a commitment to equity is at the core of everything we do. Our initiatives, programs and grassroots outreach efforts are aimed at empowering and inspiring individuals to improve themselves and their families and, in turn, strengthen their communities and their country.

Hispanic Access Foundation connects Latinos to opportunity by exposing them to reliable and relevant resources, promoting civic engagement and serving as their trusted and trustworthy partner. We have developed extensive, trust-based community networks, including those in communities that are the hardest to reach, that when combined with our robust technology, operations, media and communications platforms guarantees success.

https://hispanicaccess.org/about

Signers of the letter:

1. Eileen Miranda, La Mirada, CA 
2. Raul Velasquez, El Mesias UMC – Nogales, AZ 
3. Taynna Cabrera, Church of God – St Lawton, OK 
4. Samuel Garza, The Lighthouse Community Center – Othello, WA 
5. Anabel Quijada, Menlo Park Church – Tucson, AZ 
6. Juan Almanza, CAF – Henderson, NV
7. Mary Canas, CAF – Henderson, NV
8. Alvaro Gamez, El Sendero de la Cruz – Sacramento, CA 
9. Felipe Villegas, Nuevo Empezar de la Cruz – Oxnard, CA 
10. Gustavo Garza, Iglesia Evangelica Bethel – Indio, CA 
11. Daniel Tellez, Hagerman Christian Center – Hagerman, ID 
12. Moises Mendez, Christian Life Center – Blue Island, IL
13. Michael Gomez, Calvary Chapel AG – Los Angeles, CA