New Mexico Indigenous and federal officials urge outcry on proposed rollback of Chaco protections

Indigenous leaders and federal officials in New Mexico are rallying against a proposed rollback of mining protections around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Joey Sanchez, chair of the All Pueblo Council of Governors, led tribal leaders and the state's federal delegation in a protest outside the U.S. Capitol. This move comes as a Bureau of Land Management proposal threatens to weaken these protections, sparking significant concern among Native American groups and conservationists. The outcry is crucial as it highlights the ongoing struggle to balance development and preservation of culturally and historically significant sites.