Apache Women Ask SCOTUS to Stop Copper Mine
AP Photo/Matt York, File
A long-disputed land transfer in Arizona involving a major copper mining project has been finalized, but a group of Apache women is turning to the U.S. Supreme Court in a final attempt to stop the development.
Last week, the federal government officially transferred ownership of a section of national forest land to Resolution Copper, a mining company backed by the international corporations Rio Tinto and BHP. The move came after a federal appeals court rejected efforts by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmental groups to block the transfer.
The land includes Oak Flat, an area the San Carlos Apache and other Native American tribes have used for generations for ceremonies, prayer, and collecting medicinal plants. Tribal members refer to the site as Chi’chil Bildagoteel and have spent years trying to prevent it from being turned over for mining.
In its decision, the appeals court acknowledged that the project would permanently change the land and ultimately destroy locations that tribes consider sacred. However, the court ruled that Congress had the authority to authorize the transfer and that the legal challenges brought by the plaintiffs did not provide grounds to overturn that decision.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, whose department oversees the U.S. Forest Service, said the mining project would open access to a significant domestic supply of copper. She said the resource is important for national defense, improving the electrical grid, and supporting future energy technologies.
Resolution Copper estimates that the mine could contribute around $1 billion annually to Arizona’s economy while also creating thousands of jobs.
Opponents continue to argue that the project threatens both the environment and Native religious traditions. Wendsler Nosie Sr., a leader of the Apache Stronghold organization, said the case highlights broader concerns about environmental protection and the country’s responsibility to respect Native rights and religious freedom.
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