CDTC Celebrates Reintroduction of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Protection Act

The Chaco Canyon Cultural Heritage Protection Act was reintroduced bicamerally on April 10, 2025 by New Mexico Senators Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez. The bill would protect non-Tribal federal lands within ten miles of Chaco Culture National Historic Park by preventing future leasing of oil, gas, and minerals. The Greater Chaco Region in Northwestern New Mexico holds great cultural significance for many Pueblos and Tribes. 

“Chaco Canyon and the Chaco Region are treasured and significant cultural, spiritual, and historic sites. Protection of landscapes must extend far beyond the protection of ecologically, geologically, or environmentally significant areas—it must also consider the essential and time immemorial sacred connection of humans to landscapes. The Chaco Cultural Heritage Protection Act takes this significant next step by protecting a landscape that holds deep significance for many Tribal communities,” said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC). 

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) travels almost 800 miles across New Mexico and serves as a connector of cultures, communities, landscapes, and histories along the entire Continental Divide. Protection of culturally significant sites and landscapes, such as the Chaco Region, is essential to ensuring that the CDT can continue to fulfill this purpose and serve as a space for connection and reflection. 

CDTC applauds Senators Lujan and Heinrich, and Representatives Leger Fernandez, Stansbury, and Vasquez for taking action to ensure meaningful protections of the Chaco Region. CDTC is proud to support this bill and to continue working to establish long-lasting protections for culturally significant areas along the length of the CDT.