http://www.daily-times.com/cgi-bin/artman/...ve=77&num=18162



Land deal irks tribe


By Ryan Hall/The Daily Times
Apr 29, 2005, 10:42 pm



TAOS — The recent purchase of Ute Mountain near Taos by a conservation group who turned it over to a government agency for protection may not be the best thing for the land, according to a member of a tribe that holds the land sacred.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a conservation agency located in California with an office in New Mexico, bought the 14,344 acre mountain in two installments and turned both over to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management once the BLM secured the funds.

The TPL secured the land and conveyed it to the BLM so it could be open for public recreation while protecting wildlife and its habitats.

“That’s an old sacred place,” said Terry Knight, spiritual leader of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and a recognized tribal leader in cultural resources.

He said he was glad the land had been purchased as means of protection, but was concerned about opening the mountain, which the Utes believe contains several burial grounds and ceremonial sites, to the public.

“That’s not a good idea,” Knight said, noting that the BLM often marks such sites on their Internet Web page, allowing would-be grave robbers to have a map. “That would be a concern I would have.”

He said Ute Mountain also contains camp sites established when the tribe would make its seasonal migrations.

Calls to the BLM seeking comment were not returned.

Mary Menees, director of public affairs for TPL, said she couldn’t speak for the BLM, but felt the organization would be sensitive to tribal concerns based on the mission of the TPL, which the BLM is aware of.

“The Trust for Public Land has a lot of sensitivity around these cultural areas,” she said.

She added the goal of the project was to allow the public to enjoy the land, including limited access to Native American sites, but to protect the “beautiful landscape” and preserve wildlife and recreation opportunities.

Menees said an example of that was mining most likely would not be allowed to take place on the mountain, though it was not in the group’s agreement with the BLM to ban such practices.

“They will most likely preclude mining,” she said.

In addition to protecting habitat, Menees said the TPL is excited to protect the mountain because of the animals that call it home.

She said Ute Mountain is a breeding ground for the peregrine falcon, golden eagle and brown trout, as well as a home for the endangered Southwest willow flycatcher and the bald eagle.

Knight said he appreciated and respected the TPL’s mission, but wasn’t sure about the plan to protect the land. He noted any time the U.S. government becomes involved, tribal members become cautious.

“I don’t think the BLM will protect those (burial) sites,” he said. “We don’t trust the government very much. When the government intervenes, everybody gets a little nervous.”

In order for the purchase to truly benefit the mountain and the Ute tribe, Knight said the BLM needs to conduct an extensive archeological survey involving trained professionals and tribal members to identify burial and ceremonial sites. He hopes to be part of such an effort.

Once those sites are identified, they need to be protected and the public needs to be kept out while still allowing access for Ute tribe members in order for the protection plan to serve its purpose, he said.

“We’re certainly not going to dig up our own relatives. If we could use it for cultural and religious ceremonies, that would be great,” he said.

Knight said he was in favor of the public using the mountain for recreation as long as they stuck to marked trails and “even a campsite or two,” but left the tribal campsites and grave sites alone.

He urged the BLM to contact the Ute tribes in the area and get their recommendations before opening the mountain to the public.

Menees said her understanding was that would happen during public comment sessions the BLM plans to hold later this year or early next year to get input on how the mountain should be used.

“I would certainly hope when the BLM does have their public input sessions the tribe would be well represented,” she stated.



Ryan Hall: rhall@daily-times.com