Bears Ears National Monument

I am very proud to be both Navajo and American. As the President of the Navajo Nation, I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring that, as a Navajo, my story -- and our stories -- are part of our collective American history. Today, I want to share one of those stories with you. There was a time when our nations, American and Navajo, were at war with each other -- when the U.S. Cavalry forcibly rounded up Navajo men, women, and children, and marched them at gunpoint to a foreign land hundreds of miles away. During this time, some of my Navajo ancestors successfully hid at a sacred place of prayer, shelter, and fortitude: the Bears Ears area of Utah. Bears Ears National Monument This beautiful piece of land stretches for over a million acres across the southern edge of the state. Its ancient cliff dwellings, ceremonial sites, abundant rock art, countless cultural artifacts, winding creek beds, and expanses of desert land, contain the great history of my nation. This place served to protect my family then, just as it has protected many Native American people throughout the years. Today, President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation to protect this land as a national monument for future generations of Navajo people and for all Americans. Thanks to his action, this land will be finally given the legal reverence and protection it deserves. This action reflects the President’s profound record on conservation: He has done more than any other president in history to set aside more land and water for the future. But it is also in accordance with his actions to elevate the voices of Native people. Five sovereign tribal nations petitioned to have this irreplaceable land conserved. Bears Ears National Monument is sacred not only to the Diné people, but also our Hopi, Ute, and Zuni neighbors. These tribes came together in an unprecedented show of unity to conserve these lands for future generations of all Americans. This intertribal coalition also pushed for a new standard for national monuments and tribal involvement. Thankfully, President Obama and his team listened to our sovereign nations. With this step to protect and conserve these irreplaceable lands, he has set a new precedent for national monument tribal collaborative management. And he has strengthened the relationship between our Navajo and American nations. As both Navajo and American, I am proud our President listened to a sovereign appeal and acted to preserve our sacred land for future generations. Thank you for listening, Russell Begaye President, Navajo Nation This email was sent to neil@havermale.com. Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

AR via Google Earth Anyone? An Expedition to the Wild Far-off or Casual Stroll in Calcutta?

What is Expeditions?

Google Expeditions enable teachers to bring students on virtual trips to places like museums, underwater, and outer space. Expeditions are collections of linked virtual reality (VR) content and supporting materials that can be used alongside existing curriculum.

These trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas — 360° panoramas and 3D images — annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them easy to integrate into curriculum already used in schools.

Google is working with a number of partners, including: WNET, PBS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, David Attenborough with production company Alchemy VR and many of the Google Cultural Institute museum partners to create custom educational content that spans the universe.

If you want to put together your own kit, you can use the app with Android tablets and phones. Expeditions will run on any Android (4.4 and above) or iOS (8.0 and above) device, but multiple devices are required to use the app. The phones used with a virtual reality viewer need to meet the required specifications.

Required specifications:

A gyroscope and accelerometer: This is essential for determining orientation and doing head-tracking in virtual reality viewer.

• Android 4.4 or later OR iOS 8.0 or later
• 1GB ram

Even if your phones meet the required specifications, some devices may still not be able to use Expeditions. For more certainty and a better experience, we recommend some additional specifications and features.

• GPU comparable with an Adreno 330
• High resolution screen: 720p or 1080p is recommended. 
• Minimum of 2GB ram, 3 or 4 would be better
• 2.4ghz and 5ghz wifi support
• VR viewer compatible screen size (check the specifications for your viewer for recommended screen size)

Got Fugitives? Colorado - Where the Rubber Meets the Road..

Webcast January 30, 0900 to 1130