In the beginning, Kukumat the Creator carefully crafted the Quechan people (those who descended). As we traveled south from Avi Kwa Ame into the lower Colorado River Valley, Kukumat gave us the teachings that define who we are: stewards who live in balance with the mountains, water, plants, animals, insects, air, and all our nonhuman relatives. These teachings are not separate from the land. They live in us, carried across generations through ceremony, trail, story, and responsibility.

For the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, protecting Quechan homelands means protecting these teachings.

Today, climate change, drought, unsustainable water extraction, harmful development, and misinformed recreation are putting this irreplaceable landscape at risk.

Since 2023, the Protect Kw’tsán movement has grown from a call for recognition into a powerful push for lasting stewardship rooted in Quechan knowledge and leadership.

Progress is underway, including a federal-Tribal partnership with the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management. But protection is not complete.

The next chapter demands stronger safeguards, responsible access, and continued support to ensure Kw’tsán endures for future generations.

Stand with the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe to Protect Kw’tsán, honoring the teachings that brought us here and carrying this work forward.

Learn more about the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe and the proposal to protect Kw’tsán.