Kw'tsán National Monument

The Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe is calling on President Biden and California's congressional representatives to protect more than 390,000 acres of their ancestral homelands as a national monument. The proposed Kw'tsán National Monument, located in Southern California, would protect incredible cultural, ecological, recreational, scenic, and historical values for future generations to enjoy. The lands, currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, face threats from future harmful development, such as potential new mining claims and large-scale industrial development.

The creation of Kw'tsán National Monument would ensure the continuation of tribal citizens' ceremonies, cultural activities, and gatherings within the protected area. Moreover, it would create a collaborative opportunity for the Quechan Tribe to engage with federal agencies in the monument management planning process, incorporating Quechan values, knowledge, expertise, and worldviews. This new national monument would connect a greater cultural landscape, bridging Avi Kwa Lal, Palo Verde Peak, the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument, and Spirit Mountain in Avi Kwa Ame National Monument.