TUCSON— Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement to honor the legacy of former Chairman of the Havasupai Tribe Rex Tilousi who passed away earlier this month:

“Chairman Tilousi was a giant in environmental justice circles, and a tireless advocate for the Havasupai people, Grand Canyon protections, and the rights of everyone to have access to clean air, clean water, and land free from contamination. He embodied the spirit of environmental stewardship and served as a guardian of the Havasupai traditions and culture. For decades, he brought the story of the abuses Indigenous peoples faced at the hands of the uranium mining industry to national prominence and was integral to creating the momentum to permanently protect the Grand Canyon from new uranium mining claims and safeguard the ancestral lands of the Havasupai. He will be missed by the Havasupai people, his family, and all of those who owe him a great debt to the role he played in the fight to protect the Grand Canyon and other sacred Indigenous sites and environmental treasures.”

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