For Immediate Release
July 5, 2016
Media Contacts: Nicole A. Johnson, Native American Land Conservancy
Phone: 760.844.2402
Email: nicole@nalc4all.com
Website: www.nalc4all.com

Shauna Tucker, Mojave Desert Land Trust
Phone: 760.366.5440
Email: shauna@mojavedesertlandtrust.org
Website: www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org

Native American Land Conservancy and Mojave Desert Land Trust Partner to Clean Graffiti in Coyote Hole

JOSHUA TREE, CA – Volunteers and staff of the Native American Land Conservancy (NALC) and Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) are collaborating to clean graffiti in the Coyote Hole area on Saturday, July 16th from 8 AM until Noon. The site is home to important cultural resources, indigenous plant species, and a variety of wildlife such as creosote and chuckwalla. San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman, James Ramos, will attend and give opening remarks, which will be followed by a short guided walk.

The official clean-up efforts will begin at 8:30 AM. Work will be guided by cultural resources experts to ensure sensitive sites are protected during the workday, and volunteers will have crew leaders to make sure the effort is carried out safely in the summer heat. Anyone wishing to volunteer in the clean-up effort is asked to RSVP by no later than July 13th to Missy Boyd, MDLT Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator: missy@mojavedesertlandtrust.org.

This collaboration between NALC and MDLT was developed out of their mutual connections to Coyote Hole and in response to an ongoing issue of graffiti in this historic geologically and biologically-sensitive area. The proximity of the site, located in the Village of Joshua Tree and adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, adds significance to its importance in the larger landscape. Its value for wildlife, cultural preservation, and public access make Coyote Hole a priority for conservation. MDLT has been stewarding land in Coyote Hole for over five years and NALC could accept the responsibility of caring for part of the canyon and its resources in the future.

The site shows continuous occupancy by people for over a thousand years and contains ancient tribal petroglyphs that are culturally significant to tribes today. Its boulder-strewn canyon is home to gambel’s quail, desert iguanas, yucca plants, and a small spring. In fact, it is the water source and not the actual coyote that gave this place its name. The term “coyote hole” refers to a place where the sand is wet enough that, if you dig a shallow depression in the sand, water fills the depression creating a place to drink from.

“This is a perfect setting for helping us understand the past relationships between people and the land, and to teach the next generation about their connection to the land,” says Michael Madrigal, President of the NALC.

Danielle Segura, Executive Director of MDLT agrees and adds, “As land stewards, we aim to exemplify stewardship of the living landscape and to help others understand, appreciate, and care for the nuances of our desert lands.”

At their Old Woman Mountains Preserve, NALC has worked for years to create a culture-based curricula for native youth. “The Learning Landscapes program helps Native American youth understand their cultural connections to the landscape of the Old Woman Mountains, and seeks to heal historical trauma through ethnobotanical and cultural programming in direct association with ancestral lands,” says Madrigal.

“In its decade of existence, MDLT has continued to build upon its mission to protect the unique landscapes of the Mojave Desert for the preservation of its natural and cultural resource values through our strong stewardship component. Our partnership with the Native American Land Conservancy helps us work collaboratively toward our common goals,” says Segura.

Native American Land Conservancy (NALC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focusing on the traditional territory of tribes in present-day Southern California. The Native American Land Conservancy protects and restores sacred sites, provides educational programming for Native American Youth and the general public, and conducts scientific studies on cultural, biological, and historical resources on sacred lands. The organization started in 1998 with leadership from an intertribal cultural group interested in protecting off-reservation sacred sites in the Southern California desert. www.nalcforall.com

Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its scenic and cultural resource values through acquisition, land stewardship and strategic partnerships. Since 2006 the organization has protected over 60,000 acres of desert land. www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org