In honor of International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, first pronounced back in 1994 by the United Nations, we wanted to take a moment to mark several Indigenous led projects that are close to our hearts. We first announced our participation in the Mobilizing for Monuments campaign a year ago, and our work with this initiative continues. To recap, Mobilizing for Monuments, led by The Conservation Alliance, is a coalition of over 100 companies dedicated to preserving our nation’s natural and cultural heritage through National Monument designations.

And the best part, these campaigns have been successful!

Many of the monument campaigns supported by Mobilizing for Monuments are led by the Indigenous communities who have and continue to be protectors of these lands. Some successful designations which have resulted in National Monument designations like the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Expansion all show that the efforts and organizing put into these projects can work!

With all of the momentum and support behind these recent victories, we know it’s time to continue following the lead of local Indigenous communities who are calling for protections. Listening, learning, and amplifying Indigenous voices has proven to help in furthering protections for our environment, preserving cultural heritage in these regions while also supporting the local economy, and protecting the future experiences of generations to come. 

Why is this important to us at Flickr? Because we imagine a world where the beauty and profound significance of these landscapes are not only preserved but also shared, celebrated, and shielded through the impact of photography.

Protect Sáttítla – Medicine Lake Highlands

First, we’d like to introduce you to Sáttítla. The campaign to protect Sáttítla – also known as Medicine Lake Highlands – is led by the local Pit River Nation. Located within the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, and Modoc National Forests of northeastern California, this area is a spiritual center for numerous tribes including the Pit River, Modoc, Shasta, Karuk, and Wintu deep spiritual connection to the land and waters. Today, this same area provides water to millions of people in California.

To learn more about these incredible water resources located in this area and how the preservation of these lands impacts a large portion of northern California, visit the official Protect Sáttítla site. The protection of this land through National Monument designation will honor the cultural history and future of the Indigenous peoples of these areas while also sustaining life for millions of people who rely on these lands for water, recreation and a thriving local economy. 

To take action today, check out the official Protect Sáttítla petition: https://www.protectsattitla.org/take-action

Protect Chuckwalla

A call to designate Chuckwalla National Monument is also in the works and early supporters of this campaign include local tribes such as, the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. The area under consideration for this particular designation consists of the southeastern region of the California Desert. Along with the support and efforts of local tribes in the region, the Protect Chuckwalla campaign also has the backing of current and former local elected officials, the cities of Banning, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs, many businesses (including Flickr), Chambers of Commerce, and community members.

This campaign consists of two parts – First, to create a new National Monument in this region in southeastern California which would cover over 600,000 acres, reaching west from the Coachella Valley region to the east near the Colorado River. Second, the campaign includes a request to expand an area east of Joshua Tree National Park which would provide 17,000 acres of additionally protected public lands. 

Adding new protections to these lands ensures that the integrity and cultural significance of these lands is preserved while also expanding opportunities for recreation for underserved communities in the area. The growing outdoor recreation in the area will support local businesses while also preserving the history of these lands for future generations. Take action to show your support for protecting Chuckwalla today!

In honor of this International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, we hope you will take some time to learn more about these initiatives that help preserve the history and culture of these lands and the communities that have always been here. Looking for more information on the importance of these land designations and how you can help? Check out our Mobilizing for Monuments Road Trip Film! And join our Flickr for the Planet group for updates and information on other ways we are getting involved in preservation and land conservation at Flickr. 

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