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SANTA ANA PUEBLO 鈥� The Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape, an ancestral homeland that stretches across New Mexico and neighboring states, has for thousands of years held historical and cultural significance.

But historic preservationists and Native American leaders say the landscape 鈥� which includes , state trust lands, tribal lands and private lands 鈥� is under threat.

Located in a remote canyon between sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and Farmington, Chaco Canyon contains some of the largest excavated ruins in the Southwest. On Wednesday, leaders with the All Pueblo Council of Governors, which represents the 20 sovereign Pueblo Nations of New Mexico and Texas, announced that Chaco Canyon has been included on the list of America鈥檚 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, compiled by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

It is the second time the area has been placed on the list. The first was in 2011. Leaders said the Pueblo of Acoma submitted this year鈥檚 nomination.

鈥淲e do so not as one, but with many pueblos behind us and supporting us,鈥� said Acoma Pueblo Gov. Charles Riley. 鈥淔or Acoma, Chaco is not a distant or abstract place. When we speak of Chaco, we are speaking of the spirits of our ancestors who are still present, still teaching, still caring and asking us to carry forward what they entrusted to us.鈥�

Each of the 11 sites will receive a one-time $25,000 grant from the National Trust.

While leaders have not decided how the money will be used, they said the goal is to amplify awareness and support advocacy efforts to make a public land order protecting the area permanent, according to Brian Vallo, chairman of the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association.

Tribal leaders said the endangered designation is a call to action for federal leaders, adding that it comes at a moment of 鈥渟ignificant federal threat.鈥�

In June 2023, Public Land Order No. 7923 was enacted. The order protected 336,400 acres of federal land within a 10-mile buffer around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from oil, gas and mineral extraction after then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland withdrew the land from leasing for 20 years.

The Bureau of Land Management and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum initiated a process in 2025 to revoke or modify the order.

One proposed modification would shrink the buffer zone to 5 miles, though tribal leaders said they believe the agency is leaning toward fully revoking the order.

Approximately 90% of federal land in the Greater Chaco Region has already been leased for mineral development, according to the .

The BLM is expected to make a decision by June, though tribal leaders said the process failed to recognize pueblo sovereignty. They also said they have not been included in meaningful discussions about Chaco Canyon.

鈥淭he decision would not be made by people who hold a thousand years of cultural responsibility for that land; it would be imposed on us,鈥� Riley said.

Tribal leaders said they sent Burgum a letter and asked him multiple times to experience Chaco Canyon before making a decision.

鈥淎t this point, he hasn鈥檛 made any contact with us at all,鈥� said Council Chair Joey Sanchez, the governor of Santa Ana Pueblo.

Sanchez said the BLM set a 鈥渃ompressed timeline鈥� that did not give tribal leaders enough time to advocate or discuss alternatives.

鈥淏y law, government-to-government consultation should always happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he council has formally opposed that revocation. We have demanded the Department of the Interior suspend the process pending real government-to-government consultation.鈥�

Tribal leaders said they are seeking a permanent withdrawal of federal land around Chaco Canyon from oil and gas leasing, along with passage of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, which would permanently establish the 10-mile buffer around the canyon.

They also asked the federal government to allow them to participate in decisions involving one of New Mexico鈥檚 most culturally significant landmarks.

鈥淲e are opposed to development that proceeds without meaningful consultation, without environmental review and without regard for places that are irreplaceable,鈥� Riley said.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.