The Creek Fire burns in the Sierra National Forest in September 2020. U.S. Forest Service photo

The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians has weighed in on the proposed Range of Light National Monument, proposed for 1.4 million acres of Sierra National Forest northeast of Fresno.

The tribe that operates Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold sent a letter to Pres. Joe Biden opposing the proposed establishment of the Range of Light National Monument, citing “deep concerns” about the lack of government-to-government consultation and the severe adverse impacts the designation would have on its ancestral lands, traditional practices and modern economic opportunities.

“As the original inhabitants of this land, we hold an enduring connection to the Sierra Nevada, including the areas encompassed by the proposed monument. Our history, culture, and way of life are deeply intertwined with these lands,” said Chairwoman Tracey Hopkins. “Yet, this proposal has moved forward without any meaningful tribal consultation, a fundamental process required by federal law and policy. Our letter to President Biden makes clear, this cannot proceed without tribal voices at the table.”

In the letter, the Tribe emphasized that the monument designation would have consequences including restricting access to ancestral lands, inhibiting modern economic opportunities for the Tribe and its members and complicating essential land management and wildfire prevention efforts in an area already prone to catastrophic wildfires.

The Tribe also noted that over 600,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada are already designated as wilderness areas with extensive environmental protections. Additional federal designations would be unnecessarily restrictive and duplicative, disproportionately impacting self-sufficient tribes like Chukchansi that work to preserve their heritage while building a sustainable future, according to a news release from the tribe.

“We call on President Biden and the federal government to reject this proposal and prioritize robust tribal consultation,” said Treasurer Elena Sanders. “Alternatives such as placing affected lands into trust for Tribal Nations or establishing co-stewardship agreements must be explored to protect our ancestral lands and honor tribal sovereignty.”

Deanna Lynn Wulff, executive director of the conservation group Unite the Parks, proposed the Range of Light Monument to link the corridor between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks.

The monument status would have the National Park Service take charge of the 1.4 million acres currently protected by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.