The Vandalism of Cultural Resources of the Great Bend of the Gila Must Stop

By Consuelo Hernández, Arizona State Representative for District 21 in Tucson, Arizona, and HCLC member.

I was born and raised in southern Arizona. As a native and elected official, I am proud and passionate about my home state's stunning and diverse landscapes.

Although I have heard about and seen photos of the Great Bend of the Gila, I confess that I didn't know what to expect from it.

It was until recently that I visited this extraordinary Sonoran desert of southwestern Arizona, nestled between the cities of Phoenix and Yuma. I was amazed by it. Walking through the land and seeing first-hand the old traces of human presence in the area brought another meaning.

There are thousands of rock art images in the Great Bend of the Gila, which has been the crossroad of different people, including Native Americans, Spanish settlers, Mexicans, and Americans who have left their marks along the way.

Each petroglyph has so much history. It was so impactful to see in person history carved in hardened lava and learn about it. But seeing irreparable damage to cultural resources from target shooting and the desecration of incredible petroglyphs was equally impactful and shocking.

It is hard to understand how someone can purposely destroy Native American history and art by shooting at it. Unfortunately, this is just one of the many threats this fragile landscape faces.

It is simply unacceptable.

Indigenous Peoples have called the Great Bend of the Gila home for millennia. At least 13 federally recognized Tribes have ancestral ties to this land.

Protecting the Great Bend of the Gila is honoring the Indigenous People of this region of Arizona, and recognizing its irreplaceable cultural and historical value for future generations.

That’s why I support the proposal seeking stronger permanent protections for the public lands of the Great Bend of the Gila.

Read more about the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act.