NEWS RELEASE: Broad Support Shown For Proposed National Monument at USDA’s Public Listening Session
Hundreds of community members joined elected officials, business owners, veterans, Tribes, and local organizations in calling for monument designation
Please reach out to jensdickson@gmail.com to coordinate interviews.
WEED, California (December 7, 2024) – Today hundreds of people joined the Pit River Nation to provide input to the US Department of Agriculture and US Forest Service at a public listening session held to gather feedback about the proposal to establish Sáttítla National Monument. The meeting is the culmination of decades of work by the Pit River Nation and partners in the community to protect this area. If designated, the monument would protect over 200,000 acres of a culturally significant, ecologically rich, and geologically unique area that is the sacred ancestral homelands of the Pit River peoples and other Tribal Nations.
“For generations, my people have fought to protect these lands in Northern California, and today marks a significant moment in feeling like our voices, and the voices of the community we have worked so closely with, are finally being heard,” said Yatch Bamford, Chairman of the Pit River Nation. “The Pit River Nation is thankful for the time and effort the USDA, the Forest Service and our state officials have put into learning about the sacredness and importance of Sáttítla. After hearing the passionate pleas for protection of our ancestral and ceremonial sites, we have little doubt that one could walk away from this public meeting without feeling compelled to do more to ensure Sáttítla is protected.”
More than 500 people joined the public listening session to offer input on the proposed monument. Photo courtesy of the Protect Sattitla campaign.
Today’s meeting marks a significant milestone in ensuring the local community, who have deep knowledge of these lands and the role they play in the lives of many in California, have input and a voice in how these lands are managed in the future. The aquifers beneath Sáttítla feed into Fall River, California’s largest spring system, providing essential water resources for agriculture and millions of people in metropolitan areas downstream.
The national monument designation would ensure long-term protection, ending threats from industrial development that pose severe risks to cultural and historical sites, recreational opportunities, the purity of water, and sensitive rare plants and wildlife.
“I’ve spent years talking to people from all different backgrounds with varying reasons for being interested in Sáttítla,” said Brandy McDaniels, Pit River Tribal Citizen and appointed lead for the cultural committee’s Sattitla working group. “The more people learn about the ongoing threats to these lands and waters, the more eager they are to lend their support for ensuring long-term protections for our sacred sites and the forested lands that protect drinking water for millions of Californians. Our community has come together for years to do all we can to protect what makes this area special, and now we need federal leaders to step up.”
The Sáttítla National Monument proposal has garnered significant support from other tribal governments and organizations, elected officials, nearly 200 businesses, scientists, public health professionals, non-profit organizations, veterans, and local sportsmen and women.
Thousands of people have also petitioned President Biden, asking him to use his power under the Antiquities Act to designate Sáttítla National Monument. Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906 giving the US president the authority to set aside historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest for protection. Since 1906, 18 presidents - nine Democratic and nine Republican - have used this tool to establish or expand more than 160 national monuments, including many of our most notable and treasured public lands.
This past summer, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Sáttítla National Monument Establishment Act outlining protections for Sáttítla. The legislation was accompanied by a letter, co-signed by Senator Laphonza Butler and CA Rep. Adam Schiff, which called for the President’s use of the Antiquities Act to designate Sáttítla National Monument and the creation of a co-stewardship agreement to best integrate the Pit River Tribe’s Traditional Knowledge of the area.
The legislation followed support by other California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary Wade Crowfoot, and the full California legislature – where SJR 17 was adopted in a truly bipartisan fashion.
“Sáttítla National Monument stands as a profound opportunity to honor the Pit River Nation’s enduring fight to protect our homelands and to safeguard California’s water and cultural heritage for future generations,” said Chairman Bamford. “Protecting Sáttítla would not just preserve sacred lands—it would cement a legacy of respect, reconciliation, and responsibility to the planet and its people. This is the moment to stand with Tribes, listen to the local community, and leave a legacy of hope and healing that will echo for generations.”
Here is what others are saying about the monument proposal and listening session:
“I stand for protecting public access to public lands and champion co-management between Tribal Nations and the Forest Service to safeguard the places I cherish—whether for running, snowmobiling, or simply exploring. To ensure these treasured areas endure for future generations, I encourage everyone to stand with the people of the Pit River Nation, and so many others, in urging the Biden administration to designate a national monument." – Casey Glaubman, incoming Mt. Shasta City Council, E.D. of the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
"As a member of the Mt. Shasta City Council, I wholeheartedly support the establishment of Sáttítla National Monument. This designation is vital for protecting our clean air, water, and open spaces while preserving our community's economic, cultural, and spiritual well-being. I urge the Biden administration to designate this monument." – John Redmond, Mayor Pro Tem, Mount Shasta City Council
“The breathtaking natural beauty of the Sáttítla region draws tourists from across California, the nation, and the world, driving economic vitality in our local communities. Visitors support a wide range of businesses, including hotels, restaurants, shops, tour operators, and guiding services—small business owners who create jobs and generate income for their families. The Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce proudly stands with the Pit River Nation in urging the Biden Administration to protect these sacred lands, preserving their cultural and environmental significance for generations to come.” – Cate Clother, Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
“Safeguarding places like the Medicine Lake Highlands is essential, as these landscapes nurture the human spirit, connect us to nature, and sustain communities. They provide sanctuary for recreation, reflection, and creativity, inspiring the artist within us while protecting critical ecosystems. I support the designation of the Sáttítla National Monument and welcome the idea of co-management between the Pit River Nation and the USDA to ensure future generations can cherish the region's unique beauty and cultural significance.” – Patricia Lord, E.D., Siskiyou County Arts Council
“The Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center is encouraged by the progress toward establishing the Sáttítla National Monument. After decades of collaborating with the Pit River Nation's efforts to protect these ancestral lands, we urge the Biden Administration to use the Antiquities Act to designate this uniquely sacred landscape. Protecting Sáttítla is critical not only for honoring its cultural significance, biodiversity, and value for climate stability, but also for safeguarding the vital waters that supply millions of households downstream.” – Michelle Berditschevsky, Founder, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center & Protect Medicine Lake Highlands Program Director
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B-roll footage and photos for media use