FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Mathilda Guerrero Miller, [email protected], 808-897-1630
Trump Administration’s Push to Sell Public Lands Betrays American Values and Tribal Sovereignty
NEVADA — In a brazen move, the Trump Administration has mandated a review of protections for Nevada’s national monuments, signaling a clear intent to open these cherished public lands for mining and drilling. This directive from the Department of the Interior directly threatens the ecological sanctity and cultural heritage of significant areas like Avi Kwa Ame, undermining decades of environmental conservation and Tribal sovereignty in pursuit of short-term industrial profits.
Mathilda Guerrero Miller, Government Relations Director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada, issued the following statement:
“The Trump Administration’s ongoing crusade to sell off Nevada’s sacred lands is a stark betrayal executed with the silent complicity of Governor Lombardo and Representative Amodei. Instead of celebrating the hard-won victories by Nevadans to protect our landscapes like Avi Kwa Ame, Lombardo has outrageously dismissed these efforts as ‘federal confiscation,’ aligning himself with those who view our natural spaces as nothing more than a commodity for corporate profit. Meanwhile, Amodei’s collaboration with a member of the Bundy family to dismantle the Antiquities Act is a clear attack from another angle, aiming to strip our lands of protection and expose them to irreversible destruction.
“This isn’t just poor governance; it’s an absolute disregard for the values Nevadans hold dear. The silence of these leaders speaks volumes—they stand not with the people of Nevada but with the corporate raiders and destroyers of our environment. Their actions and inactions will not be forgotten. We will hold them accountable for betraying our trust and our heritage. The fight to protect Nevada’s lands is also a fight to reclaim our representation from those who have so shamefully sold us out.”
Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement:
“The Trump Administration’s call for a ‘review’ of Nevada’s national monuments should be taken for what it is: A brazen attempt to roll back the clock so that oil, gas and mining conglomerates can trample this state’s natural landscapes and cherished heritage. These actions, driven by profit margins over all else, would risk forever scarring the state’s natural landscape and cutting off access to regular, everyday Nevadans in order to pad corporate bottom lines. That Gov. Joe Lombardo and Rep. Mark Amodei would stand by and do nothing – even after tens of thousands of Nevadans have spent decades fighting to protect these public lands – is a grave disservice to any and every Nevadan who has ever held these outdoor spaces close to their hearts. And when our leaders betray our trust, they must never be allowed to forget it.”
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About Native Voters Alliance Nevada: A rising powerhouse in the Nevada political landscape, Native Voters Alliance Nevada (NVAN) is dedicated to forging a dynamic Native ecosystem and fostering political strength within Indigenous communities. We serve as a resonating platform for urban and Tribal Nation voices, guiding elections, molding legislation, and championing Tribal sovereignty. Join us in our empowering journey and learn more at https://nativevotesnv.org/.