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“This
is a place where gifts were given in this part of the world. To make
people understand it, how can anyone destroy a religious place that has
significant meaning?”
—Wendsler Nosie
Sr., former chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe
A battle is being waged over sacred land in Oak
Flat, Arizona,
and no one is talking about it.
Resolution Copper Co. wants to build the nation’s
largest copper mine. The issue, however, is that the copper for that
mine is located underneath the sacred Apache tribal land of Oak Flat.
Not only does this project pose an enormous environmental risk, but it
would also destroy places of historical and religious significance to
the tribe like Apache Leap and Devil’s Canyon.
In
1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
designated Oak Flat as an area off-limits to mining. However, the 2015
National Defense Authorization Act authorized Resolution Copper to use
the land in Oak Flat in exchange for other lands in Arizona. This was supported by former
Arizona
senators, Jeff Flake and the late John McCain. The land Resolution
Copper wants to trade is scattered across the state and wouldn’t offer
half the environmental and touristic value that Oak Flat currently
holds. In addition to being sacred tribal land, Oak Flat is also a prime
destination for climbers,
hikers, and campers.
For three years, the Apache Indian Tribe has been
fighting back against this land exchange and they are running out of
time This country has already stolen enough sacred tribal land from its
indigenous peoples. If a mining company wanted to tear down the Vatican
to harvest the minerals underneath its soil, there would be a public
outcry around the world. If an oil company wanted to build a drilling
rig in the middle of Jerusalem,
there would be protests far and wide. So why are these sacred tribal
lands any different?
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