Bears Ears Partnership Unites Tribal Leaders, Artists in Bluff for 2026 Celebration

U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo took the stage as keynote speaker at Celebrate Bears Ears 2026, the Bears Ears Partnership's signature biennial event, which brought tribal leaders, artists, and conservation partners together in Bluff, Utah across the weekend of March 6–8. The gathering centered on a pointed theme: "The Land Can't Wait."

The main Saturday program unfolded at the Bluff Community Center at 3rd East and Mulberry, where doors opened at 8:00 a.m. for light refreshments and registration. At 9:00 a.m., Bears Ears Partnership Chief Executive Officer Joe Neuhof delivered the State of Bears Ears address alongside welcome remarks and an opening prayer. A Tribal Leaders Panel followed at 9:20 a.m., giving way at 10:10 a.m. to a conversation with the authors of "Beyond the Glittering World." After a break, an 11:15 a.m. session on Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration rounded out the morning before Twin Rocks Cafe served lunch at 12:05 p.m. Light breakfast and lunch were both included in the $75 individual registration fee.

Harjo was also featured at a Friday Night Fundraiser Dinner, which offered attendees the chance to meet her in what organizers described as "a small, intimate setting." Guided tours ran separately on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and noon, each lasting about an hour, with participants meeting in the foyer at 1117 N Main St in Monticello.

The Bears Ears Partnership, formerly known as Friends of Cedar Mesa and a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, framed the event against a backdrop of political pressure on the Bears Ears region. "Today, as we face increased uncertainty around the future of the Bears Ears region, we're steadfast in our commitment to increase our efforts to implement vital on-the-ground education and conservation programs to protect this sacred landscape," the organization stated. Registration for the event is now closed.

The partnership carries out its work on the traditional lands of the Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, Ute, and other Tribes and Pueblos, a recognition it holds central to its mission. Event artwork was created by Kate Aitchison, whose piece "Comb Ridge and Abajos in Warm Twilight" set a visual tone matching the landscape at the heart of the celebration.