Alex Noriega

Arizonans speak up for the Grand Canyon

Photo: Alex Noriega

Arizonans are speaking up to protect the Grand Canyon and the surrounding region from uranium mining. In a series of 60-second radio testimonials, individual Arizonans say why the Grand Canyon is important to them and call for its protection.

Scroll down to explore the radio ads (and check back often, as we will be adding more voices for the Grand Canyon!)

Ed Kabotie A third-generation artist and musician from the Hopi village of Shungopavi and the Tewa village of Khap’o Owinge, Ed’s artistry and storytelling have deep ties to his culture and ancestral lands of the Colorado Plateau. He fronts the Flagstaff reggae band Tha 'Yoties.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · GCPA Ed Kabotie 60
Dawn Kish Dawn is a river runner and photographer from Flagstaff.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · Dawn Kish
Rob McFarren A United States military veteran living in Phoenix, Rob continues his service as a volunteer backcountry trail builder in the Grand Canyon.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · GCPA Rob McFarren 60
Carrie Henderson Carrie is the development director for a food bank in Flagstaff. She hiked and ran the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails for two years, always stunned by the beauty of the Grand Canyon.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · Carrie Henderson
Jay Wellman A local entrepreneur, Jay and his wife moved to Flagstaff six years ago, and both quickly fell in love with the Grand Canyon.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · GCPA Jay Wellman 60
Eric Moore A resident of Prescott, Eric is the owner of Jay’s Bird Barn, and Arizona Field Optics. He hiked the Grand Canyon with his father and again with one of his sons.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · GCPA Eric Moore 60
Danny Giovale Born and raised in Northern Arizona, Danny works at the Kahtoola outdoor equipment store in Flagstaff.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · GCPA Danny Giovale 60
Austin Corbett Social media manager, photographer and brewer, Austin was born in Arizona where he loves trail running and hiking.
PLAY: The Wilderness Society · GCPA Austin Corbet 60

Background:

As one of the most popular and recognizable national parks in the United States, the Grand Canyon is a special place to people all around the world who’ve traveled to see its breathtaking views, hike its canyons and raft the mighty Colorado River at its base.

But this iconic landscape—the spiritual, cultural and actual homeland of several Native American tribes—is also embroiled in a decades-long battle over uranium mining and its toxic legacy. Millions of tons of uranium ore have been extracted from the Grand Canyon region since the atomic age began in the 1940’s. The Department of the Interior placed a 20-year ban on new mining claims in the region back in 2012, temporarily protecting the Grand Canyon and its surrounding watershed from continued uranium contamination. But the fight for permanent protection continues. The Grand Canyon Protection Act was introduced in the Senate and passed by the House in February 2021. If signed into law it will make the protection of one million acres surrounding the Grand Canyon permanent.

For more information, visit our friends at Grand Canyon Trust

You can help!

Add your voice for the Grand Canyon.

Click here to encourage Arizona’s Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly to keep up the fight and protect the Grand Canyon watershed from uranium mining.

If you’re fortunate enough to be in Arizona, the radio testimonials are airing on the following stations:

In Flagstaff and Sedona on KMGN Classic Rock 93.9 FM, KQST Top 40 102.9 FM, KAFF Country 92.9 FM, KBTK News/Talk 97.1 FM
In Prescott on KYCA News/Talk 1490 AM, KPPV Adult Contemporary 106.7 FM, KTMG Hot Adult Contemporary 99.1 FM
On the Navajo Nation on KTNN Country 660 AM, 101 FM
In Tucson on KRQQ POP Classic 93.7 FM, KIIM Country 99.5 FM, KMXZ Adult Contemporary 94.9 FM
In Phoenix on KESZ Adult Contemporary 99.9FM, KFYI News/Talk 550AM, KNIX Country 102.5FM