Goats Head National Monument Committee

Background information
In southeastern Utah, the president of the United States is proposing to designate a
section of land as a National Monument. This area contains at least 4 sites that have
artifacts from prehistoric Native Americans in the area, including dwellings, pottery and
petroglyphs. Residents in the area have known about theses sites for decades, and are
commonly used recreational trails near the sites, as well as a mine that is important to
the area’s economy. The proposed site is currently a combination of public land,private
land, a National Forest, and a State Park. Because this designation would impact many
residents in the area and possibly set a precedent for future archaeological sites, it has
become a highly controversial topic with may differing opinions. The Goats Head
National Monument Committee has been created to make a decision on what should
be done with the land.
Goats Head National Monument Committee

Singer Davis
Age 47
Occupation: Navajo Nation Representative

Background:The proposed national monument is approximately an hour from the current

Navajo Reservation where Singer is a representative. The artifacts are the history of the
Navajo people which Singer takes very seriously. If there are not enough protections over
the artifacts, they could be damaged or vandalized. However, Singer worries that if the
federal government does not provide enough funding, those protections will not be
enough. Also, National Monument status would also take away the ability of Native
Americans to conduct traditional ceremonies at or near these locations.
Goats Head National Monument Committee

Skyler Johnson
Age:31
Occupation: Local Restaurant Owner in Shawview

Background: Skyler owns a restaurant on Main street in Shawview called Johnson's

Diner. They grew up exploring the land that is now being proposed as a National
Monument. They often rode ATVs, camped, and hunted there. If the land becomes a
National Monument, they would be prohibited from doing these activities. On the
other hand, their business is struggling to earn enough money due to a lack of
tourism is the area. Designating the area with a new status would be sure to bring
more people to Shawview which would help Johnson’s Diner and other businesses
in the town.
Goats Head National Monument Committee

Alex Jensen
Age:29
Occupation:Teacher

Background: Alex is a middle school teacher in Shawview and has been teaching
for 7 years. Their hobbies are not things that would take place on the land, but
changing the status of the land trust would affect Alex’s job. As a teacher, much of
the funding Alex’s school receives is from Trust Lands. If the proposed section of
land changes, their school funding will decrease. That means less money for
teacher pay, technology, school repairs, sport teams, field trips, books, etc.
Goats Head National Monument Committee

Charlie Smith
Age:56
Occupation:Utah State Representative for this district

Background: Charlie is a state representative for Utah House District 73 which

covers Shawview and Harrisonville. They grew up in the area and continue to live
there when Utah’s State Legislature is not in session. They see the value in
protecting the artifacts and land in the area, as well as the financial and economic
benefits of increased tourism. As a state representative, however, they would prefer
to see the revenue from the land go the state instead of the federal government.
They also believe that the people who live in the area should have greater say in
what happens to the land.
Goats Head National Monument Committee

Jordan Anderson
Age: 42

Occupation: Miner from Harrisonville

Background: Jordan works as a coal miner at the Fox & Wolf Mining Company.
Their income is the primary income for their family. If the National Monument
proposal is accepted, all mining on or near federal land will be stopped. This
means Jordan would lose their job. Federal regulations are typically more strict
and difficult to change than state regulations. Jordan and their family would most
likely have to relocate to find a new job if this land became a National Monument.