Press Release: Indigenous Voices at Utah State Capitol Rally for Land Protection
SALT LAKE CITY — A passionate crowd gathered at the Utah State Capitol on Saturday for the “Save Our Land, Save Our Parks” protest, focused on protecting public lands while amplifying Indigenous voices. Organized by Nizhoni Guthrie, the event aimed to address significant concerns related to land rights and environmental protection.
“I feel like our voices are silenced. We are not heard,” said Guthrie, emphasizing the urgent need to discuss the detrimental effects of federal actions on Indigenous lands. “Our land is being taken away year by year and sold for oil, uranium, and coal. We need to find ethical resources rather than exploit the earth.”
Carl Moore, another participant, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the broader environmental impact of resource extraction. “The lake, Salt Lake, the animals, the plants, the air, the water—all these elements are part of our community that we need to protect,” he asserted.
The protest also spotlighted critical issues such as the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis and recent federal budget cuts to national parks. “In Utah, we haven’t seen much Native activism. It’s time to speak up,” Guthrie noted.
Participants expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s actions affecting their ancestral lands. “This is native land, and we have an obligation to care for it,” Moore remarked. Despite the modest turnout, the message was powerful: “This land is our land, our resources are ours, and our resources are not for sale,” Guthrie declared.
The protest served not only as a rallying cry for environmental stewardship but also as a poignant reminder of the need for Indigenous representation in discussions concerning their land and rights.
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