For countless generations, the resilient people of the Pueblo of Sandia have nurtured an profound and enduring relationship with Sandia Mountain and the life-giving Rio Grande, situated in what is now known as New Mexico. This ancient connection persevered even through centuries of external pressures and existential threats from successive Spanish, Mexican, and American governmental incursions, as the Pueblo steadfastly protected these ancestral lands and vital waters, continuously praying for the well-being of their communities and the intricate tapestry of the natural world surrounding them.

Sandia Mountain, revered as the community’s sacred church, protector, and essential source of spiritual and physical sustenance since time immemorial, also serves as a critical habitat for diverse wildlife and indispensable ecosystems. Beyond its profound cultural significance, the mountain offers unparalleled natural beauty and extensive recreational opportunities, drawing hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors annually to the vibrant Middle Rio Grande Valley. Today, the Pueblo of Sandia issues a clear and urgent call to lawmakers and the broader public, imploring them to honor their distinct culture, invaluable traditional knowledge, and inherent sovereignty. This plea underscores the critical need for robust support in their ongoing efforts to further safeguard Sandia Mountain, particularly in an era marked by rapid environmental shifts and escalating global unpredictability.

Central to this appeal is a specific legislative request: the transfer of lands within the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Area from the U.S. Forest Service, an agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which operates within the Department of the Interior. This proposed jurisdictional shift represents a pivotal step towards empowering the Pueblo to enact more direct and culturally informed stewardship over their ancestral domain. While the Pueblo acknowledges and appreciates the dedicated work of local Forest Service employees who have diligently strived to protect this special area through various political administrations, they have also observed a regrettable and persistent pattern of environmental degradation. Evidence of this includes pervasive litter and graffiti, significant deferred maintenance, damaged fence lines, the proliferation of illegal trails, violations of occupancy rules, and overall disrespect shown by individuals who seemingly disregard both the sacredness and the ecological importance of Sandia Mountain.

Furthermore, the Pueblo has documented the alarming destruction of ancient cultural sites and the encroachment into sensitive ecological zones. These are precisely the areas that the federal government committed to protect when Congress enacted the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act in 2022. This landmark legislation, a culmination of decades of complex legal battles and intricate agreements, aimed to rectify historical injustices and restore the Pueblo’s access to lands originally granted to them by the King of Spain in 1748. These Spanish land grants were subsequently affirmed by the U.S. Congress in 1858, following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which officially transferred vast territories from Mexico to the United States. The confirmed Spanish grant explicitly designated the eastern boundary of the Pueblo’s land at the "main ridge" of the mountain. However, a hastily conducted and profoundly flawed survey in 1859, completed in a mere four days, arbitrarily mapped the boundary along the foothills near the Pueblo, rather than adhering to the true main ridge of the Sandia Mountain area. This erroneous survey resulted in the unjust loss of approximately 10,000 acres from the Pueblo’s rightful land grant.

The T’uf Shur Bien Act of 2022 represented a concerted effort to redress this historical deprivation, acknowledging the Pueblo of Sandia’s original claim to lands extending to the ridgeline of Sandia Mountain. The act specifically grants tribal members "free and unrestricted access to the Area for traditional and cultural uses," while simultaneously protecting private landowners within the claim area. Crucially, it also perpetually defends the wilderness character of the region and prohibits harmful activities such as logging, mining, and other forms of development. The current request for a land transfer from the USDA to the Department of the Interior is not a unilateral demand but the product of extensive and transparent engagement. The Pueblo of Sandia proactively conducted over 75 meetings with a diverse array of stakeholders, including lawmakers, neighboring communities, local businesses, and individual citizens, meticulously explaining the profound significance and necessity of this proposed jurisdictional shift.

Despite these diligent efforts and the Pueblo’s unwavering commitment to upholding all promises and agreements, a persistent stream of disinformation regrettably circulates within certain media channels and community sectors. It is imperative to clarify that the Pueblo of Sandia unequivocally states it is not, nor will it ever, deny access to legitimate landowners or responsible, respectful recreational users. Should the land transfer proceed, all authorized existing uses or activities, along with established public rights of way for roads and utility corridors, will remain fully intact and protected. Visitors will continue to enjoy the area’s natural splendor, and crucially, the lands, waters, and diverse wildlife of Sandia Mountain will remain safeguarded—not only for the immediate future but for countless generations to come.

By assuming direct management of the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Area, the Pueblo of Sandia will be uniquely positioned to more effectively protect its vibrant culture, ancient traditions, and cherished way of life. This direct oversight will also empower the Pueblo to implement robust measures against future unsustainable development, further environmental degradation, and the escalating threat of catastrophic wildfires, which are becoming increasingly prevalent across the American West due to climate change. Drawing upon centuries of indigenous ecological knowledge and deep-rooted land stewardship practices, the Pueblo can offer locally tailored solutions, resources, and strategies specifically designed to suit the unique cultural and physical landscape of this vital area. Furthermore, this localized management will significantly enhance intergovernmental coordination efforts for critical emergency responses, public safety initiatives, and law enforcement activities, fostering a more integrated and effective approach to regional well-being.

The preservation of Sandia Mountain is paramount to retaining its profound religious and traditional meaning for the Pueblo. Beyond its cultural centrality, the mountain’s conservation and protection are essential for the ecological health and long-term sustainability of the entire Middle Rio Grande Valley and for the prosperity of future generations. Indeed, no entity possesses a longer, more intimate, or more deeply ingrained record of love, care, and effective stewardship for this sacred mountain than the indigenous people who have inhabited and protected it for millennia. This initiative by the Pueblo of Sandia resonates with a growing global movement advocating for the recognition of indigenous land rights, co-management partnerships, and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation strategies, acknowledging that original stewards often hold the keys to resilient landscapes in a changing world. The transfer of these lands is not merely a bureaucratic adjustment; it represents a profound step towards environmental justice, cultural revitalization, and a more sustainable future for a critically important ecosystem.