# Environment religion native american nonprofit politics
Utah Dine Bikeyah and Bears Ears- A 10 Year Healing Journey
Bears Ears National Monument was created by five Tribes and a nonprofit, Utah Diné Bikéyah.Gavin Noyes. Prayer and traditional religious beliefs were primary reasons Bears Ears was protected as a National Monument in 2016. This may sound strange, since spirituality might seem too far removed from policy making. However, this topic was more carefully studied by the Utah Diné Bikéyah (UDB) Board than any other topic. Board Members would inquire; “Did we ask the right permissions?” “What words were uttered, exactly?” “Were the proper dates selected?” “Were phases of the moon and star alignments considered?” “Which religious practitioners did we invite?” These questions were all taken into account. Everyone knew that Bears Ears is not a place where mistakes can be made or where the inexperienced or unsanctioned can lead prayers. Spiritually, the UDB house was in order.