Endangered sacred land in Arizona gets reprieve
Oak Flat supporters, including Presbyterians, urged to keep praying and advocating to save site
LOUISVILLE — The proposed transfer of a site that's sacred to Native Americans such as the Western Apache was temporarily halted this week to the delight of those who don’t want to see the land in Tonto National Forest turned into a copper mine.
A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel granted an injunction, keeping the U.S. Forest Service from transferring the land, known as Oak Flat or Chí’chil Biłdagoteel, to a foreign company, Resolution Copper, for the moment.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe and others opposed to the mining project had requested the temporary injunction after a district judge recently declined to stop the transfer of about 2,400 acres of land, which could have taken place as early as Aug. 19.
Now, cases brought by the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition (AMRC) and the San Carlos Apache tribe have been consolidated and the 9th Circuit has set an accelerated schedule for briefs by both sides, according to the coalition, which noted that a hearing could be held as soon as mid-October.
Court records indicate that the panel granted the temporary administrative injunction to preserve the status quo while motions are pending and that the panel did not take a position on the merits of the motions.
Those happy about the injunction include Eileen Schuhmann, associate for global engagement and resources for the Presbyterian Hunger Program. She’s a supporter of preserving the land, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
“We celebrate that yet again, the courts have, at least temporarily, stopped the destruction of Oak Flat!” Schuhmann told Presbyterian News Service. “Oak Flat is sacred ground, and we cannot survive if we sacrifice what is sacred for profit.”
Oak Flat has long been a place of worship, prayer and religious ceremony for Native Americans. But in 2014, a last-minute rider was attached to a defense bill, setting the stage for the site to be transferred to Resolution Copper. However, the project has been tied up in the courts with multiple lawsuits.
President Donald Trump made it clear on social media that he is not happy with the latest delay, blaming it on a “Radical Left Court,” and claiming that “3,800 Jobs are affected, and our Country, quite simply, needs Copper – AND NOW! They are looking to do an Expedited Appeal before the Ninth Circuit, but it is so sad that Radical Left Activists can do this, and affect the lives of so many people.”
Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. of Apache Stronghold responded by asking whether this is a nation that respects religious freedom. He also stressed the importance of preserving the land for future generations.
“If we destroy our sacred land and poison our environment, we are betraying our children and grandchildren and hurting ourselves,” said Nosie, as reported on the Apache Stronghold/Save Oak Flat Facebook page. “Three times now, courts have stopped this destructive project. That is because it is unjust, bad for our nation, and bad for the world. We hope the courts will stop the destruction of Oak Flat once and for all. No matter what happens, I call on all people to continue to pray for justice and to stand with us in protecting Oak Flat.”
The effort to save Oak Flat has been going on for years and has gained support from allies of various faiths and backgrounds as well as those who care about the environment.
“Everyone who loves Oak Flat and who’s been fighting for years to save it can exhale for now,” Russ McSpadden, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news release. “The battle over this extraordinary place is far from over. I’m grateful the lawsuits challenging this terrible mine will be heard and I’m hopeful the courts will protect Oak Flat for future generations."
The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery held interfaith prayer circles earlier this week to give supporters a chance to pray for Oak Flat and Mother Earth and to discuss future actions to support the cause.
Schuhmann was among the participants, and she urges people who are concerned about Oak Flat not to give up. “As Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. reminds us, this is a desperate time for miracles. Pray, stand in solidarity and protect what is sacred."
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