#MyGrandCanyonStory | Juliana Huereña
HECHO spoke with Juliana Huereña of Phoenix, Arizona to learn about her personal connection to the Grand Canyon, her favorite memories there, and why she believes the Grand Canyon should be protected from uranium mining.
HECHO: What is your personal connection to the Grand Canyon?
Juliana Huereña (JH): So, what is my connection to the Grand Canyon? It is that it was in my backyard and so I was able to take advantage of the wilderness and the opportunities that the Grand Canyon has offered. The beauty of it, the Majestics of it, all of it.
HECHO: Why do you believe that the Grand Canyon should be protected?
JH: I believe that the Grand Canyon should be protected because it's a natural wonder. It has natural resources that we all need such as the ecosystem. We have the water supply; the water creates the clouds that creates the rains that is able to nourish our crops so that we can have food as well as water.
HECHO: Why do you advocate for the Grand Canyon?
JH: I advocate for the Grand Canyon because if no one does it, then it's going to get lost. So, it's better to talk about why it's important and I feel it's very important to me and to my family.
HECHO: What are your plans for your next visit?
JH: So, my plans to visit the Grand Canyon, when it opens up again, is to do some more hiking and camping like I did when I was younger. So, in Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. When we were young, in sixth grade, we took a trip on the rafts and went down the rapids. They weren't fast though. Another time, I was in Girl Scouts, so we did a lot of camping at the Grand Canyon on the South Rim. Another time, we went to Havasu Falls and did a great hike, 10 miles in and 10 miles out, and spent several days at the falls. We even went down to Mooney Falls, which is another waterfall down about a mile or so. It was just nice to be part of nature. Trying to get permits is going to be tricky, but if you are ready and have an open schedule, I recommend you planning your trips as soon as possible once it opens up.
HECHO: What tips would you share for people visiting?
JH: So, my tips, if you happen to go visit the Grand Canyon, are to make sure you are aware if the trail requires for you to have a permit, like I mentioned earlier. Make sure you make your reservation as soon as possible. Find out when the peak times and dates are and you may enjoy it when there are less people there. Another recommendation is, instead of going to the South Rim where lots of tourists go, maybe try out the North Rim. Always carry plenty of water cause you're going to be drinking a lot. People don't realize the high altitude and that you need to have water and wear layers of clothes. It may look chilly up on the top of the rim, but if you're hiking and going down, make it colder, and vice versa. It just depends on what season that you visit the Grand Canyon.
HECHO: What are your thoughts about the administration’s policy aiming to open up the Grand Canyon watershed for uranium mining?
JH: My thoughts about how the administration is going to open the Grand Canyon watershed because organizations want to partake in uranium mining are that I don't think it's a good idea. There might be some contamination of water downstream and there's many people who live on the Colorado River area and they may be drinking that and getting sick. So, if it can be avoided, and look elsewhere where there's not dense population, that might be a better choice. Where they want to open the uranium mining, it might not be the best choice.
HECHO: Could you complete the following sentence: Protecting the Grand Canyon watershed from uranium mining is personal to me because...
JH: Protecting the Grand Canyon watershed from uranium mining is personal to me because it is a natural resource that can't be taken away.
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