2022
08
Feb
Time to Step up to Protect Chaco!
Paul F. Reed, Preservation Archaeologist
(February 8, 2022)—In November 2021, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the withdrawal of 351,000 acres of Federal surface land from oil-gas development in a 10-mile zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
As our supporters know, we ...
more
2022
11
Jan
Bureau of Land Management Moves to Protect Chaco, Opens Public Comment Period
Dear Friends,
Last Sunday morning I happened to glance out my kitchen window. On the power pole about 100 yards away was a very large white-breasted bird. It had to be a hawk. But it was really large.
Fearing it would fly away, I moved swiftly to grab my bird guide and binoculars. I got a ...
more
2021
30
Nov
Secretary Haaland, Tribal Leaders Celebrate Chaco Protections
Dear Friends,
It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania with my daughter and my grandkids. It’s also good to be back in Tucson.
My travels really brought home that there is a lot of change going on among professionals and colleagues across the nation. New job prospects are pro...
more
2021
15
Nov
Chaco Protection Zone Comes Closer to Being a Reality
Taos, N.M. (November 15, 2021)—Earlier today, at the administration’s first White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden and Secretary Haaland announced that the Department of the Interior will take action to protect the Greater Chaco Landscape in northwest New Mexico. Secretary Haaland ha...
more
2021
24
Aug
Tribal Expertise Must Inform BLM Decision-Making
Dear Friends,
It’s good to be back after our one-week break.
It’s also exciting to share a couple of media events linked to Archaeology Southwest’s long-term Preservation Archaeology projects.
Two decades and five days ago, Paul Reed was hired as our Chaco Scholar. Paul’s init...
more
2021
24
Aug
NEW REPORT: Former DOI Secretary, Pueblo of Acoma’s Governor, Preservation Group Discuss Impact of Broken Federal Oil & Gas System on West’s Cultural Resources
Paper from Archaeology Southwest highlights need for overhaul
of the federal oil & gas leasing system
*** Read the paper here — listen to the press call here ***
Washington, D.C. (August 24, 2021)—Today, Archaeology Southwest released a new paper on the impact of the federal government’...
more
2021
30
Mar
As Women’s History Month Ends, Celebrate Women Archaeologists—and Consider the Future
Dear Friends:
Paul Reed here! I’m stepping in for Bill this week to share some Greater Chaco news.
Despite some recent media reports, the situation across the Greater Chaco Landscape is looking up. In addition to the confirmation of Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary, two recent developments ...
more
2021
25
Mar
Archaeology Southwest Supports Leasing Reform
Taos N.M (March 25, 2021)—This afternoon, the Department of the Interior held a public forum as part of its comprehensive review of the federal oil and gas program. The forum highlighted perspectives from industry, labor and environmental justice organizations, natural resource advocates, Indige...
more
2021
23
Mar
BLM and BIA Push on Plans That Threaten Greater Chaco
Dear Friends,
Debra Haaland is now our new Interior Secretary. Here’s a short video in which she sends a first-day-on-the-job greeting to Interior staff. It made me feel good. Enjoy.
Haaland and her team have a mighty—and mighty challenging—agenda. Interior needs to rebuild and mobil...
more
2021
26
Jan
It’s Time to Permanently Protect the Greater Chaco Landscape
Dear Friends,
Last week’s list of fresh words I hope we'll be using more going forward was a bit too short. Here are the contributions of your word-savvy fellow readers.
Compliance (as say, for mandatory masks)
Humor (as in, good humor) (2)
Tolerance
Thankfulness, Gratefulness, Gratit...
more
2020
10
Nov
Interior Appropriations Bill Excludes Chaco Protections
Dear Friends,
Weeks are longer than they used to be. I can barely remember the geologic era of the last time I sat down on a Tuesday evening to write to you.
That’s the problem with archaeologists: We expect time to be linear.
Sometimes, it can be helpful to consider the antitheses ...
more
2020
10
Nov
Archaeology Southwest Responds to Draft of FY2021 Interior Appropriations Bill
Taos, N.M. (November 10, 2020)—Today, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies released a draft of the FY2021 Interior Appropriations Bill. It does not include the current language that prohibits leasing inside the Chaco buffer zone.
On behalf of...
more
Show More