US President Joe Biden, who has made several decisions in favor of Native American nations since his inauguration, on Monday announced his intention to ban all new oil drilling around a site sacred to some of them.

He promised to ” take action to protect ” the site of Chaco Canyon, in the state of New Mexico (southwest), during a virtual summit with representatives of Native American nations.

Making a decision with the “ pro-oil ” policy

The federal administration will study the possibility of prohibiting, for twenty years, the granting of any new federal concession for the exploitation of hydrocarbons within a radius of 10 miles (16 kilometers) around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, according to a statement. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this desert site, rich in archaeological remains, is of great historical and spiritual importance for many Amerindian nations and tribes, including the Pueblos.

The measure Joe Biden initiated will not apply to existing farms, nor to plots owned by individuals, the state of New Mexico or tribal entities. The decision, which contrasts with the resolutely pro-oil policy of his predecessor Donald Trump, comes in a particular context for the Biden administration.

Gasoline prices are skyrocketing in the United States, and many members of the Republican opposition believe now is not the time to curb hydrocarbon development. The Democratic president has made a series of decisions since arriving at the White House in favor of Native American nations, which have been particularly hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. ” We find the right solutions when you (the Native American representatives) have your place around the table, ” Deb Haaland, the first Native American ever to be appointed to a federal government, said Monday.

This member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe of New Mexico is Home Secretary. This term designates in the American administration a department managing the natural resources of immense federal lands (approximately one fifth of the surface of the country) as well as the Amerindian reserves.

Joe Biden in particular suspended a pipeline project (Keystone XL) highly criticized by some tribes, and restored the area of ​​three protected areas, including the site of Bears Ears in Utah (west), which Donald Trump had truncated, angering native tribes. He was also the first US president to celebrate October 11 as “ Indigenous Peoples Day ”.

This day marked ” Columbus Day ” in the United States , in tribute to Christopher Columbus, a historical figure increasingly contested, in particular by representatives of the Amerindians.

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