Interior Secretary Jewell to Host Public Meeting on Bears Ears (7/10/16)

Debate over Bear’s Ears Hits Fevered Pitch
Rep. Rob Bishop plans to unveil long-awaited legislation next week to preserve some areas of the Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah just ahead of a visit by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. Bishop also plans to fast-track his much-anticipated Public Lands Initiative (PLI) — which critics worry won’t go far enough to protect Bears Ears — by holding hearings in August and September and put it before the House by the end of the latter month. The Utah Republican — joined by Utah’s senators, Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch, and Rep. Jason Chaffetz — hopes the measure will blunt any attempt by President Barack Obama’s administration to use the 1908 Antiquities Act to unilaterally create a national monument as several tribal leaders have called to safeguard nearly 2 million acres. http://bit.ly/29wpcYD – Salt Lake Tribune

Interior Secretary Jewell to Host Public Meeting on Bears Ears
We’re calling on all our Friends to attend this critically important Public Meeting on July 16th in Bluff, UT. Secretary Sally Jewell from the Department of Interior is coming to San Juan County listen to perspectives on protecting Bears Ears. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a difference for Bears Ears, and all you have to do is show up! http://bit.ly/2a0robQ – Friends of Bears Ears

Ute Mountain Tribe, University of Colorado, and PaleoWest Host Field School
the Ute Mountain Ute tribe is working with the University of Colorado anthropology department to develop a field school to document and preserve ruins on the reservation. During the first two-week session in June, 12 students traveled to the reservation to study the ancient Cowboy Wash Pueblo, located southwest of Towaoc. The pueblo was occupied by Puebloans during the late Pueblo III period, 1100 A.D. to 1300 A.D. The excavation project is under the supervision and guidance of PaleoWest Archaeology, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and CU faculty, with assistance from Crow Canyon Archaeology Center. http://bit.ly/29zAqiC – Cortez Journal

The Consumer Energy Alliance Believes Not Fracking Chaco Will Impact Every Aspect of American Life
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management recently delayed a planned leasing auction of more than 2,000 acres in the Chaco Canyon region intended for much-needed oil and gas development. Originally slated for October, the auction will be postponed, per reports, until at least January. If it happens at all. For the sake of New Mexico, let’s hope it does – the sooner, the better. That’s because this is the latest setback for an industry that plays a major role in the manufacturing of just about everything that touches our lives on a daily basis. That includes the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the shampoo we use, the carpet we walk on, the medication we take, the tires we drive on and the food we eat. http://bit.ly/29rohZ9 – Albuquerque Journal

Is Historic Preservation Un-American?
In 2000, Norman Tyler published the book Historic Preservation: An Introduction to its History, Principles, and Practices. The first page of the book asked the question: Is Preservation Un-American? This question is based on an article published in 1979 by Clem Labine, publisher of the magazine Traditional Building, titled: “Preservationists Are Un-American.” Labine was concerned by Americans’ consumption, throw-away mentality and lack of focus on preservation of history. In the piece, Labine said, “Preservationists are Un-American because they oppose the conventional American idea of consuming ever more, and are the new wave of pioneer struggling to reverse the ‘use it up and move on’ mentality. We are moving in and picking up the pieces. We are taking discarded individual buildings and whole neighborhoods and trying to make them live again. We are cleaning up after society’s litterbugs.” http://bit.ly/29tyTGl – Michigan State University

Video Link: New Research at the Alamo
Archaeologists convene to dig on the site of the Alamo downtown. Experts want to figure out the landscape and how the site has shifted over time. http://bit.ly/29woxGJ – News 4 San Antonio (Warning: obnoxious advertising.)

Nine Partners in Preservation Grants – “like butter spread too thin over toast”
In honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial, the National Trust for Historic Preservation joined with National Geographic and American Express for Partners in Preservation: National Parks to award $2 million in grants—as decided by popular vote—to historic sites at our beloved national parks. From pioneer cabins and watch towers, to scenic overlooks and historic hikes, the 20 participating sites not only spanned from Alaska to Puerto Rico, but they also reflected the diverse communities and experiences that comprise our nation’s cultural fabric. After more than 1.1 million votes were cast, nine preservation projects in our national parks were awarded grants. Thank you to everyone who voted and supported their favorite parks! http://on.natgeo.com/29Fzed2 – National Geographic

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Sherry Robinson and Oscar Rodriguez (Lipan Apache) who will give a lecture Lipan Apaches: Setting the Record Straight on July 18 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the Voices From the Past Lecture Series held to honor and acknowledge The New Mexico History Museum. Sherry is Journalist and Author, Apache Voices: Their Stories of Survival As Told to Eve Ball and I Fought A Good Fight: A History of the Lipan Apaches (Winner, 2014 Fray Francisco Atanasio Dominguez Award, New Mexico Historical Society); Oscar is Ex-Officio Tribal Council Member, Lipan Apache and also serves as Finance Director, City of Santa Fe. Admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. No reservations are necessary. Refreshments are served. Seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt tel: 505 466-2775; email:southwestseminar@aol.com; website: southwestseminars.org

Editor’s Note: It has come to our attention that quite a few people did not receive the Southwest Archaeology Today newsletter for July 4 of 2106. Back copies of the newsletter are available at https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/2016/07/03/33833/. We hope this problem is cleared up tonight.