Representatives of five tribes asked the New Mexico Cultural Properties Review Committee to place sacred Mount Taylor on the Register of Cultural Properties.

The mountain is a central part of life for the Acoma Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo, the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe. The tribes are worried about development, including uranium mining, that will affect the site.

"Although private boundaries are now marked by fences, power lines transverse the mountain and radio towers stand near the summit, those changes do not alter the spiritual connection to the sacred trails, to places of significance and the continuation of our cultural practices," said Acoma Pueblo Lt. Gov. Mark Thompson, the Associated Press reported.

Local opposition to the designation is strong. Many private landowners don't want their properties included on the list and they said it was unclear what areas would be protected.

Get the Story:
Mount Taylor TCP on hot seat (The Gallup Independent 5/18)
NM panel mulls Mount Taylor protections (AP 5/16)

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Sacred site in New Mexico receives protection (6/16)
Sacred site up for discussion in New Mexico (6/13)
County opposes protections for sacred Mount Taylor (5/1)